Thanksgiving Day Safety Tips

11/20/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas, and Christmas Eve?  We want you to enjoy these days with your loved ones, so here are a few safety tips for when you are cooking that scrumptious meal.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop 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 3 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 the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids or toys.
• 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.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Be especially aware when Deep Frying a turkey, people tend to put too much oil in which causes overflow and spreads to the open flame causing a mass fireball.  Also putting in a frozen or very wet bird can cause major problems which they call B.L.E.V.E which stands for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion.

• Always use fryer outside away from any structure
• Keep oil under 350 degrees, the hotter the oil the more combustible it is
• Don’t overfill the pot with oil
• Thoroughly defrost turkey(24 hours for every 10 pounds the turkey weighs)
• Turn off flame before putting turkey in
• Keep grease fire approved extinguisher on hand
• Lower turkey into pot slowly

If by unfortunate event you have a emergency this Holiday Season please know your SERVPRO of Barron, Dunn, and Rusk Counties are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on Holidays.  Contact us if need be at (715)643-7171 and we will be there to help.  Happy Holidays!