Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is a holiday full of family, friends, and food but safety is something that might get pushed aside. With all you have on your “to-do list” and added family members in town, these tips will surely help you all stay safe and alleviate some of the stress you may have.

When not used correctly and safely, one serious Thanksgiving hazard is a turkey fryer. Use these tips when deep frying your turkey:

• Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages, and a safe distance away from trees, and other structures.
• Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry.
• Place the fryer on a level surface.
• Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that’s 8 to 10 pounds is best.
• Wear goggles, and safety mitts and keep an “ABC” or grease-rated extinguisher close by.
• Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil.
• For more, see our complete list of safety tips for frying your turkey.

Additional safety tips for Thanksgiving:

• Cooking fires: Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop and keep an eye on any food that you are cooking in the oven. We can easily get distracted with everything going on so set timers to remind you.
• Candles: We like to keep the house smelling good during the holidays but keep an eye on candles and make sure they are out of reach of children. Keep candles away from potential fire hazards such as drapes, and books or paper, bedding, and blankets.
• Plug-ins and wax melters: Keep an eye on your plug-ins and wax melters as these can get very hot at the outlet. Keep these out of reach of children and unplug or turn them off when leaving the room and going to bed.
• Keep an eye on little ones: Make sure children stay away from the stoves so they do not get burned and make sure that hot foods and liquids are out of reach of children.
• Outlets and cords: Make sure to not overload outlets and extension cords and make sure those are also out of reach of children.