November 2—According to the National Fire Prevention Association, Thanksgiving Day is the year’s biggest day for fires. In 2020, Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America physicians and advanced practice providers saw 28% more burns on Thanksgiving than the daily average for the entire year.
To help make sure your Thanksgiving holiday is fun and safe, follow these tips:
Frying a turkey
- Before frying your turkey, make sure the turkey is COMPLETELY thawed.
- Use a fryer with thermostat controls to help keep the proper temperature for the oil and ensure the oil does not become overheated.
- Never overfill the pot with oil. Remember that the oil will rise once the turkey is placed, leading to the oil overflowing and becoming a fire hazard.
- Children should never be closer than three feet from the fryer at all times.
- Never use a turkey fryer inside. Instead, set up the fryer outdoors and away from any nearby structures.
Around the house
- Before the holidays, check all fire alarms or smoke detectors throughout your house and test to ensure the batteries are working. If not, replace any batteries before cooking.
- Candles are nice decorative touches for the holidays but can quickly become dangerous. Make sure any lit candles are out of reach of children or pets and away from flammable materials like decorations, tablecloths, clothes and more.
Cooking
- Before cooking, set up a three-foot safety zone/boundary by the oven and instruct all children not to go in that zone.
- Always stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove or if you have food in the oven.
- Preparing a large meal is difficult. Set timers for different dishes to help prevent burning food, spills and more.
- Even with a safety zone around the oven, turn pot handles toward the back of the stove when cooking and out of reach of children.
- Consider investing in a kitchen fire extinguisher to have on hand in case of emergencies.
- Once you have finished cooking, make sure all appliances are turned off before leaving the kitchen unattended.
- Don’t wear loose or flowy-sleeved tops or outfits when cooking, and keep all hand towels and potholders away from hot surfaces, gas stoves, candles and more.
Across our system, our providers are available 24/7 to deliver patient-focused burn and wound care but taking preventive measures can help you avoid an injury.
For more information about Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America, contact Christina Maraone, VP of Marketing, at [email protected] or call 855-863-9595.
About Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America
Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America is the largest system of burn care in the United States. Each year, our physicians and advanced practice providers treat patients of all ages for a wide range of injuries, including thermal, chemical and electrical burns, skin and soft tissue disorders, complex wounds and traumatic extremity injuries. For more information, visit our website at burncenters.com or visit our social media accounts on Facebook or LinkedIn.