Avoid Thanksgiving Dangers With Tips From Lower Merion Fire Marshal

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — With the Thanksgiving holiday a week away, the Lower Merion Township Fire Marshal's Office has offered up tips to avoid fires while preparing meals.

"Thanksgiving is a time to gather around the table and enjoy a homecooked meal with friends and family, it is also the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents," the Fire Marshal's Office said.

Below are tips to stay safe while cooking this Thanksgiving:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Safety tips for kids are available online here, as well.