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How to Prevent Home Cooking Fires

The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially on and around Thanksgiving. It’s where families gather together and holiday meal magic happens. But with all the hustle and bustle of the day and added distractions, you kitchen also can become a danger zone.

You see, on Thanksgiving Day, there are three times as many house fires than on any other day of the year. So to help ensure that your Thanksgiving is safe and happy, we urge you to follow these important safety tips.

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop so that you can keep an eye on the food. If you must leave momentarily, assign another adult to watch the stove.

• Do not leave the home while cooking your turkey. Set a timer to remind you to check on it frequently.

• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove, and be sure to turn pot and pan handles toward the stove instead of hanging off the edge.

• Keep children away from hot food and liquids. A blast of steam or splash of hot liquid from vegetables, gravy, soups, or hot beverages could cause a serious burn.

• Keep the floor clear of toys and wipe up spills right away to prevent slips and falls.

• Keep electric cords from dangling over the counter where a child could reach them. That goes for electric knives, coffeemakers, plate warmers, mixers, etc.

• Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children and never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.

• Make sure your smoke alarms are in working order.

Yes, it’s a lot to think about, but we think your home and family are worth exercising a little added caution.