Remember These Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year when everyone gets a moment to take a break from the hustle and bustle of work and sit down with family and friends to celebrate everything they have to be thankful for.

Because we here at Steven Brown & Associates are all about safety, whether it’s fire safety or any other form of safety, we thought we’d share some helpful tips to keep your holiday happy and problem-free. We know how hectic preparations can be for those extra guests, so add these items to your Thanksgiving Day checklist to ensure a worry-free holiday.

We’ve broken these tips down into two parts, both fire safety (for obvious reasons), and other general tips.

Fire Safety Tips

• NEVER THROW A FROZEN TURKEY INTO A FRYER! Deep frying a turkey has great appeal, and it also brings real dangers. So fry carefully and don’t become a tragic fire statistic. According to the National Fire Protection Association, deep-fryer fires are responsible for five deaths, 60 injuries, the destruction of 900 homes, and more than $15-million in property damage every year
• Clean your cooking surfaces before you start your preparations, so any extra grease buildup is removed ahead of your big dinner.
• Never leave your home while either your stove or your oven is turned on.
• If you’re cooking on the stove, be sure to stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on it. You don’t want any tiny hands pulling hot food off the stove onto them!

• Candles, matches, and lighters should all be put away or out of the reach of children.
• Test all smoke alarms regularly and replace dead batteries as needed.
• If you have a fireplace and children are attending your gathering, be sure you have a sturdy screen in place.
• Make sure a working fire extinguisher is nearby in case of emergency.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Use baking soda or a fire extinguisher instead.

General Thanksgiving Safety Tips

• Once you’re finished cooking, be sure to turn off all appliances.
• Clear the floor of any tripping hazards.
• Keep knives and electrical cords out of the reach of children.
• Your medicine cabinet should be locked or medications kept out of the reach of children.

We know these are probably all obvious to you, but they’ve also been obvious, after the fact, to people who have suffered fires and injuries. So take a few minutes to look around and keep everyone safe this Thanksgiving. From everyone here at Steven Brown & Associates, have a Happy Thanksgiving!