Fire-free Thanksgiving
Take precautions in the kitchen for a safe Thanksgiving
2:04 p.m., Nov. 23, 2015--The University of Delaware Department of Environmental Health and Safety reminds members of the University community to take the necessary steps to have a safe and fire-free Thanksgiving celebration.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. The average number of home fires on Thanksgiving is normally double the average for all other days.
FYI Stories
June 6: UDid It! Picnic
2FA protects you
To enjoy a happy and safe Thanksgiving, remember these tips from the USFA:
• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking -- frying, broiling or boiling -- at high temperatures.
• Make your cooking area safe. Move things that can burn away from the stove. Turn pot handles toward the back so they can’t be bumped.
• Watch what you’re cooking. Use a timer when roasting a turkey or baking.
• Be prepared. Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.
• Stay awake and alert while you’re cooking. If you see smoke or the grease starts to boil in your pan, turn the burner off.
• Prevent burns. Wear short sleeves when you cook, or roll them up. Don’t lean over the burner. Use potholders and oven mitts to handle hot cookware.
For those planning to fry a turkey for Thanksgiving, here are some special tips:
• Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
• An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in, and a partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot.
• Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
• Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot.
For more information, visit the USFA website.