Thanksgiving Safety Tips To Avoid Kitchen Fires, Injuries

MARYLAND, MD — When the kitchen is humming with activity and people are bustling about preparing the Thanksgiving meal, it's easy to inadvertently toss a dish towel on a hot burner or splatter hot grease on sensitive skin. Knowing that accidents happen during the holidays, Maryland's Office of the State Fire Marshal offers the following safety tips so that Thanksgiving is a fun and festive day for everyone.

Thanksgiving Safety

• Remain in the kitchen when cooking on the stove top and stay in the home when your oven is in use.
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove when you are cooking.
• Keep the kitchen floor clear of obstructions that could cause someone to trip or fall while they're carrying hot items.
• Never deep fry a frozen turkey. Always be certain your turkey is 100 percent thawed and dry before frying. For thawing instructions, click here.
• Never leave a fryer unattended and keep children and pets away from the area.
• Never operate a fryer outdoors in rain or snow and be sure it is placed on a level, sturdy surface away from trees and combustible structures.
• Let oil cool overnight before disposing.
• Leave at least two-feet between tank and burner when using a propane-powered fryer.
• Don't overfill the fryer and be sure to turn the burner off just before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner back on.
• Utilize protective equipment, such as eye protection and grill mitts, when frying.
• Do not use deep fryers, knives, ovens, or stove tops while intoxicated.