Only You Can Prevent House Fires

From the American Red Cross of Illinois:

Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than an average day according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In fact, each year more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day. Just because we get to take a break from dieting on Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean we can throw caution to the autumn winds. Remember these suggestions and have a happy and safe holiday.

To help prevent home fires this Thanksgiving, the Red Cross suggests the following tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving Day home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
• To prevent cooking fires, you must be alert. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels or curtains– away from your stove top.
• Make sure your sleeves are out of the way when cooking. Wear tighter fitting clothing with shorter sleeves.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Never hold a child while cooking, drinking or carrying hot foods or liquids.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner
• Turn the handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
• Follow all manufacturer guidelines regarding the appropriate use of appliances.
• After guests leave, walk around the home, making sure that all candles and smoking materials are extinguished.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Click here to read more tips from the Red Cross on burn prevention and first aid, what to do if someone at the table is choking on their turkey, and flu prevention tips. Have a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

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