Cook Smart, Don’t Get Burned!

Let’s talk Turkey!

Ahh Thanksgiving!

The beginning of the holiday season: decorations, family gatherings…a time memories are made.  My favorite memories are football in the backyard , watching the games on TV , and most importantly, a time of giving thanks for all we have been blessed with, and FOOD, lots of food! I can almost smell the wonderful scents from a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Most people know that thanksgiving is the heaviest travel day of the year, but did you know that more kitchen fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year? Nothing can destroy the holiday season more than a tragic fire or burn injuries.

There are many hazards that come with the holiday season. Let’s concentrate on Thanksgiving first. Typically, on Thanksgiving day, every cooking appliance is generally in use.  All the burners, the microwave, toaster oven, the stove and maybe even a deep fat turkey fryer! Here are some tips to prevent a tragic occurrence on Thanksgiving.

-          Make sure you have a kid free zone in the kitchen. This should be at least three feet around the stove.

-          Keep all combustibles away from the stove, including potholders, towels and other flammables.

-          Do not wear loose fitting clothing if you are cooking.

-          Use extreme caution when basting a turkey.

-          Follow cooking and appliance instructions.

-          Don’t be afraid to ask for helpers.  A good idea is to keep two people in the kitchen at all times.

-          Let any thing cooked in the microwave stand for one minute to prevent steam burns

-          Turn each burner and then stove off when the cooking is done

-          Have a class B or K rated extinguisher or baking soda nearby 

If you are using a turkey fryer: 

-          Follow the directions

-          If the fryer is for outdoor use do not use it inside or in the garage.

-          Slowly lower the turkey into the grease.

-          If it is raining or snowing be aware as this can cause the oil to splatter

-          Have a Class B or K rated fire extinguisher or baking soda nearby

-          Do not overfill the fryer with oil

If a fire occurs:

-          Do not panic

-          Evacuate everyone

-          Call the Fire Department

-          If you attempt to extinguish the fire DO NOT reach over the burned area even if you have extinguished it as it could reignite.

Finally, I would like to say thanks. Thanks to the emergency response forces and military stationed far away from home that will have to work to protect the rest of us while we enjoy Thanksgiving with our families and loved ones. You are in our thoughts. THANK YOU

About Terry Flanagan: Terry is the Director of Safety and Education at NIFAST – National Institute for Fire and Safety Training.  NIFAST, National Institute of Fire and Safety training, is a membership based organization developed to train and certify people in various areas of Fire and Safety. Programs are in place for home inspectors, home occupants, college students and off-campus housing environments as well as products for Fire Safety. Terry is a nationally registered Fire Instructor.

Photo: Courtesy of Google Images

• Keep the stovetop clear of combustibles that can burn such as potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels or curtains.
• Don’t leave food cooking overnight or while you are away in another room. Keep an eye on the stovetop. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. If you must leave even for a short time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• If a small fire occurs on the stovetop, cover it with a lid or a larger pan and turn the burner off. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. Water should never be used on a grease fire as it often spreads the fire and causes serious injuries.
• If you attempt to use a fire extinguisher on a grease fire make sure the extinguisher is properly maintained and you are trained to use it. When in doubt, get out. Close any doors behind you, evacuate the house and call 9-1-1. Over half of home cooking injuries occur when victims try to fight the fire themselves.
• If a fire occurs in your oven, keep the oven door closed and turn it off. By keeping the door closed, you will keep oxygen from fueling the fire and burning you and your clothing.
• Keep the number of people in your kitchen to a minimum, especially children. Crowded kitchens can cause confusion and result in burns. Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Turn pot handles on the stovetop toward the center of the stove so they are not easily bumped.
• Make sure electrical appliance cords aren’t hanging over the counter.
• Always use cooking equipment that has been tested and approved by a recognized testing facility such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Turkey fryers are not certified by UL due to the high risk of tip over, spill over, or over heating which can lead to hot oil exposure, severe burns and a fire. Cooking bags and approved roasters can be excellent alternatives.

Most importantly, November and December is a time to offer help to those in need, generally when it is most critical.  What a perfect way to show your holiday spirit than by helping those less fortunate than you. Consider donating canned goods to help provide a warm holiday dinner to your local food bank. Food banks throughout the country are seeing more and more working people needing assistance providing food for their families.  They attribute this due to the rising costs of food, housing, utilities, health care, and gasoline.  Food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers are finding that they have less surplus food to donate to the food banks.  Additionally the government help has decreased over the years. It’s easy, just search your hearts and pantries and donate some of the much needed items. May your Thanksgiving and Holiday season be FIRE SAFE and blessed with the bounty of the season, love of family, friends and a harvest of smiles! Pumpkin Cookie Recipe – Enjoy! 1 ½ cups brown sugar (packed)                        1 tbsp. baking powder              1 cup chopped pecans ½ cup shortening                                                      1 tsp. cinnamon 2 eggs                                                                             ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 ¾ cups canned pumpkin                                    ¼ tsp. salt 2 ¾ cups Gold Medal Flour                                   1 cup raisins Heat oven to 400 degrees (mod. Hot). Mix sugar, shortening, eggs, and pumpkin thoroughly.  Measure flour by sifting. Blend dry ingredients; add to pumpkin mixture, stirring until well blended.  Add raisins and pecans.  Drop batter by teaspoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 12 to 15 min., or until lightly browned .  Cookies may be iced when cool with a thin butter icing.  Makes about 6 doz. Cookies.  Note; if you use Gold Medal Self Rising Flour, omit baking powder and salt.

Article Source: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.