FIRE SAFETY WHILE COOKING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

During the holidays, the kitchen is the gathering spot in the home. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations.

Keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this time is critical. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember to follow these few simple safety tips so you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family fire safe. 

Thanksgiving Fire Statistics

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. 
• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
• Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).
• On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2022, reflecting a 399 percent increase over the daily average.

Source: NFPA Research

Top Safety Tips

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, purses, or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button. 

FRYING A TURKEY

Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns. If you want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, purchase it from a grocery store, restaurant or buy a fryer that does not use oil.

COOKING WITH CAUTION

• Do not use the stove if you are tired or if you have consumed alcohol.
•  Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you need to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check on it regularly. Remain at home while food is cooking. Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains- away from the stovetop.

Electrical Cooking Appliance Safety Tips

• Always use cooking equipment—air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, griddles, etc.—that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on where and how to use appliances.
• Remember to unplug all appliances when not in usE.
• Check cords regularly for damage. Do not use any appliance with a damaged cord.

Slow Cooker Safety

 A slow cooker is designed to be left on while you do other things, even things outside of the home. However, there are few safety tips to keep in mind:

• Keep things that could catch fire away from the slow cooker.
• Make sure the slow cooker is in a place where it won’t get bumped. If the lid gets dislodged, the liquid could boil away, which could cause the appliance to overheat and create a fire.

Pressure Cooker Safety

A pressure cooker is designed to cook food faster than a stovetop or oven. Because it uses hot steam and pressure to cook food it is important that they are used properly to prevent burns.

• Place the cooker in an open space to give enough room for the steam to ventilate.
• Never cover the steam release valve on the pressure cooker.
•  Do not leave the home when using a pressure cooker.

Air Fryer Safety

• Give your air fryer enough space. The air vents release heat and need airflow.
• Do not leave the home when using the air fryer.
• Make sure you clean grease and food debris after every use. Unplug and allow to cool completely before cleaning.

Hot Plate, Griddle and Electric Skillet Safety

• Stay with the hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet when cooking.
• Do not touch the surface of a hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet, as it could burn you.
• Unplug a hot plate, griddle, or electric skillet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow the appliance to cool before cleaning it.

Microwave Safety

Microwaves are a quick way to heat up a meal, warm up a drink or defrost an item. Convenience is key, but fire safety is very important when using one especially to prevent burns and possible fires.

• Purchase a microwave that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Complete and return the product registration card- this way the manufacture can reach you regarding any recalls on the product.
• Plug the microwave directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
• Make sure the microwave is at a safe height, within easy reach of all users.
• Open food slowly, away from the face. Hot steam and hot food can cause burns.
• Food heats unevenly. Stir and test food before giving to children.
• Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave because they heat unevenly, creating hot pockets. Warm a bottle in a bowl of warm water or by running it under the kitchen faucet.

Grease Fires

• On the stove top, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan and turning of the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Scald Prevention

Scalding injuries can happen to anyone. Hot liquids from drinks and food can cause injuries. Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries. Here are some tips to help prevent scalding injuries:

• Teach children that hot things can burn. Install anti-scald devices on tub faucets and shower heads.
• Always supervise a child in or near a bathtub.
• Test the water at the faucet. It should be less than 100° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius).
• Before placing a child in the bath or getting in the bath yourself, test the water.
• Test the water by moving your hand, wrist, and forearm through the water. The water should feel warm, Place hot liquids and food in the center of a table or toward the back of a counter.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Open microwaved food slowly, away from the face.
•  Never hold a child while you are cooking, drinking a hot liquid, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
• Allow microwaved food to cool before eating.
• Choose prepackaged soups whose containers have a wide base or, to avoid the possibility of a spill, pour the soup into a traditional bowl after heating.
• Treat a burn right away. Cool the burn with cool water for 3–5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth.