The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations. Kids especially love to be involved in holiday preparations. However, safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at home.
According to the United States Fire Administration, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires and frying food increases the risk. The average number of reported home fires in the United States on Thanksgiving Day is more than double the average number of home fires on all other days. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occurred most frequently from noon to 3 p.m., when many people most likely were preparing Thanksgiving dinner. These fires then declined throughout the evening.
As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember to play it safe! E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety offers a few simple tips so you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.
Turkey:
If you are roasting your turkey, make sure you set a timer. This way, you won’t forget about the bird as you watch the parade or football game.
Deep frying a turkey may be delicious but it also can be dangerous. If you are frying your turkey,
- Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become over heated.
- Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.
- Don’t overfill the pot with oil. If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey causing a fire hazard.
- Keep children and pets at least 3-feet away from the fryer to protect against burn injuries.
- Also, always use the fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from things that can burn.
Stuffing and Potatoes:
Stand by your stove when you are boiling your potatoes or frying onions for the stuffing. It’s best to stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling or broiling. If you are in the kitchen, it’s easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.
Vegetables:
- Keep the area around the stove clear of packaging, paper towels, and dish cloths; anything that can burn.
- Be sure to clean up any spills as they happen.
- Be prepared! Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.
- Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove so you don’t bump them.
By following these safety tips, you will have a delicious and fire safe Thanksgiving Where You Live! Remember to let the firefighters have dinner with their families, not yours.
These 3 common types of fire extinguishers (ABC) are often found in homes and businesses. Most home improvement stores carry multipurpose fire extinguishers that cover Class A through Class C.
For use with ordinary materials like cloth, wood and paper.
For use with combustible and fammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paints.
For use with electrical equipment like appliances, tools, or other equipment that is plugged in.
Listen to this morning’s interview on the Morning Show when Ken Lanphear interviews Lt. Michael McLeieer, founder and President of E.S.C.A.P.E. in studio on WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9.
Help people decide when to use a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguishers can be helpful on a small fire. Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher on a potential fire.
For example:
- Have I alerted others in the building that there’s a fire?
- Has someone called the fire department?
- Am I physically able to use a fire extinguisher?
- Is the fire small and contained in a single object (like a pan or a wastebasket)?
- Am I safe from the fire’s toxic smoke?
- Do I have a clear escape route?
Use a fire extinguisher when all of these questions are answered “yes.” If you’re unsure about whether or not it’s safe to use a fire extinguisher, and for all other situations, alert others, leave the building, and call 911 from a mobile or neighbor’s phone. It is not recommended that children use fire extinguishers.
Teach people how to use a fire extinguisher
When operating a fire extinguisher, tell residents to remember the word PASS:
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
Educate on the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance
Remind citizens to check fire extinguishers for:
- Easy access in an emergency
- Be sure nothing is blocking or limiting your ability to reach it.
- The recommended pressure level
- Many extinguishers have gauges that show when pressure is too high or too low.
- Working parts
- Make sure the can, hoses and nozzles aren’t damaged, dented, or rusted.
- Cleanliness
- Remove any dust, oil, or grease that might be on the outside of the extinguisher.
- Guidelines and instructions
- Some extinguishers need to be shaken monthly, others need to be pressure tested every few years.
This morning, our President and Founder Michael McLeieer of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. spoke with Morning Show Host Ken Lanphear on WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 and shared various fire safety tips:
- Have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
- Contact your local fire department or call 1-844-978-4400 if you need alarms
- Create and practice a home escape plan
- Keep space heaters at least 3-feet away from combustibles
- Activate evacuation of all occupants from the fire or smoke-filled building and make sure 911 is notified before using a fire extinguisher
All of these tips will help to prevent home fires, injuries and deaths.
Sunday, November 3rd is the time to move your clocks back one hour to standard time to fall back for Daylight Saving! It’s also a great opportunity to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they are working properly.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that 71% of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries, making it important to take this time each year to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms double the chance of a family surviving a home fire and/or an unsafe carbon monoxide level incident.
Use this checklist to find out if you are taking the right steps to protect your family:
1. Count Your Smoke Alarms – Be sure there is at least one smoke alarm less than 10 years old installed on every level of your home, including one in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.
2. Change Your Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Batteries – Fire experts nationwide encourage people to change their smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries at least once a year. An easy way to remember to do so is to change the battery when you move the clock back to standard time November 3rd. Alarms which have a sealed, long-life battery should be good for the life of the alarm (10 years), however they should be tested at least monthly to make sure they are functioning properly.
3. Check Your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms – After inserting a fresh battery in each smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, push the safety test button to make sure the alarms are in proper-working condition. Conduct this test monthly. Never disconnect your smoke alarm battery! Remember that a “chirping” alarm is a signal it needs a fresh battery or has reached the end of its 10-year life and needs to be replaced.
4. Clear Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms – Ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms’ sensitivity by cleaning them each month of dust and cobwebs.
5. Replace Your Smoke Alarms – The United States Fire Administration recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and having a combination of both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms to alert you to all types of home fires.
6. Change Your Flashlight Batteries – Keep flashlights with fresh batteries at your bedside for help in finding the way out and signaling for help in the event of a fire.
7. Get the Entire Family Involved – Once smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have fresh batteries installed, you should make sure family members, children in particular, know what the alarms sound like and what to do should they go off…Get Out and Stay Out and then call 911 from a safe meeting place once outside!
8. If you need a free smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, contact your local fire department, email [email protected] or call toll free 1-844-978-4400.
Sometimes saving a life can be that simple – Change Your Clocks and Check Your Alarms, Where You Live!