Turkey day is a great day to get friends and family together and sit back and relax while you cook — and eat —the turkey. However, since cooking is a leading cause of home injuries and home fires, it’s important that you practice thanksgiving fire safety.
Around 66 percent of fires are started by cooking or when cooking materials and food catch on fire, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Plus, almost 54 percent of injuries caused by cooking fires is due to people trying to put the fire out themselves and it’s said that Thanksgiving Day is a peak day for cooking fires.
Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips to Prevent Home Cooking Fires
The following home cooking fire safety tips below are recommended by the National Fire Protection Association:
- Stay in the kitchen and turn the stove off if you plan on leaving the kitchen for any length of time When you are grilling, frying or broiling food.
- Set a timer so you don’t forget that you’re cooking and check it regularly when you are broiling, baking or roasting food.
- Avoid using the oven if you are drinking alcohol or already had some or if you are sleepy.
- Ensure things like food packaging, oven mitts, curtains, towels and wooden utensils are away from your stovetop so they don’t catch fire.
What to Do if you Have a Fire From Cooking
- Don’t attempt to put the fire out yourself. Leave your home and call 911. Contain the fire as much as you can by closing the door behind you.
- If you do attempt to put the fire out yourself, make sure everyone else gets out of the home and call the fire department
- If you have a small grease fire in a pan, smother it by sliding a lid over it and turn off your oven. Make sure the pan is completely cooled down before you uncover it.
- If you have a fire in your oven, shut it off and keep the oven door closed.
Thanksgiving Day is a very festive time and it can be a great time to visit with loved ones and enjoy a delicious meal together, but it can get hectic as well. But, when you understand the risks that this and any other holiday can bring and practice these and other Thanksgiving fire safety tips, you can reduce the risk of starting a home cooking fire.
As you know, you can’t always keep accidents from happening no matter how careful you are, so it’s important that you have a good homeowner’s insurance policy, condo insurance or renters insurance that can protect you and your valuable assets in the event of a home cooking fire.
All of us here at bolt insurance Agency hope that you have an enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving Day.
