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Author: Kathy Woodard

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

PuroClean offers the following tips to help keep your Thanksgiving celebration safe for everyone in the family, including your pets.

  • Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen even for a few minutes, turn off the stove.
  • When cooking your turkey, check on it frequently and don’t leave the house.
  • Alcohol (or drowsiness) and cooking don’t mix! Don’t use the stove or stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol.
  • Use a cooking timer to remind you when to turn off the stove or oven.
  • Wear tight clothes and roll up your sleeves when cooking. If you have long hair, tie it back.
  • Keep flammable things, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, your clothing or food packaging, away from the stovetop.
  • When cooking, keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Put it out by sliding the lid over the pan and then turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. Never throw water onto a grease fire!
  • Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen for extra prevention. How Do I Use a Fire Extinguisher Safely? – PuroClean Water, Fire, and Mold Experts
  • Keep the kitchen floor clean and clear of objects to avoid trips or falls.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from a hot stove, hot food, and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee can cause severe burns.  www.puroclean.com/columbus-oh-puroclean-water-fire-and-mold-experts/blog/how-to-keep-your-pets-safe-this-thanksgiving/?lang=en
  • Even though kids love to be involved in holiday preparations, it is best to have games, puzzles, or books that keep them out of the kitchen during this busy time.
  • Make sure electric cords aren’t dangling off the counter within easy reach of children or pets.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters up high in a locked cabinet and out of the reach of children.
  • Use battery-operated candles instead of real candles. Learn more candle fire safety tips.  Safety tips for avoiding fires caused by candles in your home (puroclean.com)
  • Ensure your smoke alarms are working by testing them at least once a month and replacing batteries once a year.
  • Review your home fire escape plan with the whole family and tell your visitors about it. Mark two exits out of each room and practice your fire drill routinely.

How to prevent turkey fryer fires and injuries

Note that the NFPA discourages outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. They also urge those who prefer deep-fried turkey to consider the new type of “oil-less turkey fryer.” However, if you still prefer the traditional hot oil fryers, consider these safety tips:

  • Only use your turkey fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface well away from people, pets, and combustible things.
  • Don’t overfill the cooking pot. First, place the turkey in the pot with water to determine the correct amount of oil needed. 
  • Ensure your turkey is completely defrosted and DRY before you fry it to prevent hot oil from splattering.
  • Use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of your fryer, as it can quickly overheat and start a fire.
  • Wear long cooking gloves to protect your hands when handling the turkey fryer.

If you have a cooking fire:

  • Get out of the house and close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
  • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home.
  • If you try to fight the fire using the fire extinguisher, make sure others are getting out, and you have a clear path out of the home. Also, ask that someone call the fire department.
  • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.

Holiday Safety Tips

With the joys of the holiday season can also come fire-safety risks. We share the following tips to help keep your family and home safe during the winter holidays and beyond.

Source: https://www.puroclean.com/blog/holidays-safety-tips/

Indoor Christmas lights:

  • Be sure the lights are rated for indoor use and look for Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or other recognized independent testing laboratory designations on the label.
  • Don’t overload electrical outlets or extension cords – and don’t connect more than three sets of lights into one extension cord.
  • Turn off all lights and electric-powered decorations before going to bed.
  • Protect cords so pets can’t chew them.

Outdoor Christmas lights:

  • Make sure these are also rated accordingly – approved for outdoor use.
  • Use weather-resistant outdoor electrical cords.
  • Don’t attach lights with nails or staples.

Christmas tree safety:

  • Never use flame-lit candles on a Christmas tree.
  • Make sure your artificial Christmas tree is fire-retardant.
  • Keep live trees watered sufficiently – and select a live tree that is fresh and its needles are not dry.
  • Keep all trees at least three feet away from any heat source.

Miscellaneous:

  • Don’t burn candles near trees or greenery. Consider using battery-operated candles instead.
  • Make sure the candle is sturdy and can’t be easily knocked over.
  • Extinguish all candles before going to bed.
  • Inspect all holiday lights for frayed wiring, loose connections, broken bulbs and other signs of wear and tear.
  • Have a fire escape plan and be sure all members of the home are aware of it.
  • Make sure all smoke alarms are working.
  • Have your fireplace inspected regularly – and keep it cleaned after use.
  • Keep matches out of the reach of children.