Week 8 Question - Scavenger Hunt Contest Fall 2014

11/23/2014 (Permalink)

Frozen turkey dropped into fryer

Did you know that there are about 4,300 Thanksgiving Day fires annually in the United States? The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year. Thanksgiving can be a fun and relaxing holiday that brings family and friends together; and taking some precautions can help you make sure your Thanksgiving is safe and enjoyable.

Last week we discussed how important the proper type fire extinguisher can be should a fire occur in your home; but here are some important tips on how you can prevent having to use the extinguisher in the first place:

Stay in your kitchen whenever you are cooking on the stovetop.

Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

Keep children away from the stove – at least 3 feet.

Make sure kids and pets stay away from hot food or liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee can cause serious burns.

Keep the floor clean so you don’t trip over any toys, purses, or bags.

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.

Do not leave candles burning in rooms where you cannot observe them and make sure the flame is at least 1’ away from any combustible item.

Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Some people may look to vary the traditional turkey entrée by using a deep fryer. The deep-frying cooking process requires that up to 5 gallons of oil be heated before placing the turkey into the device. Tests have shown that a number of available fryers can tip over easily, allowing hot oil to spill and creating a fire or scald burn from contact. They can also overheat which causes hot oil to spill or splatter outside the fryer, a recipe for fire or serious injury.

Want to see what a turkey fryer disaster can look like? State Farm teamed up with William Shatner to make a short video of what a turkey fryer fire can do, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETBD0EqQGoU&feature=feedu

If a house fire does occur, quickly get yourself and loves ones out of the house and call 9-1-1. If you attempt to fight the fire, make sure that others are getting out of the home or have a clear way out. For small grease fires, you can use a Class B extinguisher or smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until the pan is completely cooled. If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keeps the doors closed.