As Thanksgiving approaches, the City reminds everyone to use added caution when celebrating the holiday. Thanksgiving Day represents the leading day for home cooking fires, followed by the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. More than three times as many cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day as a typical day of the year. The leading cause of these fires is unattended cooking.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving. Safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there are a lot of activity and people at home.
- Before you start cooking, test the batteries in your smoke alarms. Just in case a recipe goes wrong!
- Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.
- When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.
- Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require longer cook times.
- Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, and towels at least three feet away from the cooking area.
- Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that can come in contact with a heat source.
- Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out, standing to the side as you do. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the fire department for assistance.
- Keep children at least three feet away from the stove. Kids should also stay away from hot foods and liquids, as steam or splash from these items could cause severe burns.
For information about safe food preparation and handling, visit: Thanksgiving | FoodSafety.gov
Don't forget about those leftovers! For safe post- holiday grazing tips, visit: USDA- Safe leftovers
Still need help getting ready for Thanksgiving?Let’s talk turkey! The Butterball experts have adapted to the needs of the modern holiday cook. They’re available to answer your questions by phone, text, online chat, email, the Butterball Skill for Amazon Alexa, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The Turkey Talk-Line also has Spanish-speaking experts available for assistance. Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) or text 844-877-3456.
Whether you're heading to the stores on Black Friday or waiting until Cyber Monday to shop online. Here are a few safety tips to remember while you're hitting those sale racks!
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As Autumn weather transitions to winter, there are some additional hazards that can make driving a challenge. The tips below can help you navigate the roads safely in the weeks ahead.
- Give yourself an extra car length or two to increase your safety zone.
- Make sure your windshield wipers work well, which means they clear the water off your windshield with streaking or smearing. If they’re old, replace them before the rains hit.
- When leaves are covering the road, slow down and try to avoid making sudden turns. Give yourself a little extra time to brake at stop signs and intersections.
- In foggy conditions, slow down and keep your headlights on low beam. Don’t use high-beams since that will further reduce visibility by reflecting light back at you.
- As temperatures drop, mornings will be frosty. Keep an ice scraper in the car to remove frost on the windshield and drive slower and with caution in areas prone to ice buildup on the road, such as bridges, overpasses, and parts of the road that are shaded,
- Don't drink and drive. Pay extra attention when driving around the holidays for drivers who may be impaired
