According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2022, which reflects a 399% increase over the daily average. This annual spike can largely be attributed to people cooking multiple dishes at once, along with other distractions that can easily cause one to lose sight of what is cooking on the stove and in the oven. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries and is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%). This HealthySimulation.com article serves as a public service announcement to remind our readers to stay safe this holiday season.
First and foremost, those who plan to cook this holiday season must be aware that oil and water DO NOT MIX! Further, everyone must understand that they cannot put out an oil-based fire with water, as this ultimately distributes the oil and flames even more. Additionally, simulated turkey fire demonstrations are often conducted by fire departments and emergency personnel to demonstrate just how dangerous cooking with oil can be. This simulation methodology can be utilized to demonstrate potential dangers associated with fires and train firefighters and civilians on how to address these emergencies.
NFPA Cooking Safety Tips
The NFPA issues several recommendations that help keep people safe while they prepare to cook this holiday season. For example, the organization emphasizes that anyone cooking, especially on the stovetop, should remain in the kitchen so that they can keep an eye on the food. The organization also recommends that those who prepare the meals should stay at home when cooking the turkey and check on the process frequently. They should be sure that smoke alarms work and test them with the test button.
Here are additional NFPA tips and recommendations for safe cooking:
- 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, stay at home and check regularly.
- Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require a longer time to cook.
- 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 could 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. New fire retardant blankets for the kitchen area are valuable to extinguish cooking fires.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you are confident the fire is completely out and stand 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.
Additional Cooking Tips
If children are nearby when the meal is being prepared, people should make sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer, or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach. Other best practices include keeping matches, utility lighters, knives, hot foods, and liquids out of children’s reach. Steam or splashes from vegetables, gravy, or coffee can cause serious burns as well. Ultimately, children should be kept three feet away from the stove and away from any lit candles.
Frying a Turkey
According to the National Fire Protection Association, deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage yearly. Deep-frying a turkey has become increasingly popular, but the new tradition is a recipe for holiday tragedy. The use of turkey fryers is considered a serious injury and fire risk as the turkey is placed in the hot oil, oil may spill from the fryer onto the burner, causing a fire. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling the hot oil onto anyone nearby. Most turkey fryers do not have an automatic control. Because of this, the oil can overheat to the point of combustion and cause a fire. Turkey fryers, including the lid and handles, get extremely hot and can easily cause burns. Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. Underwriter Laboratories, one of the country’s top safety consulting companies, has decided not to safety certify any turkey fryers because of the increasing number of fires and burn injuries related to their use.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discourages the use of outdoor, gas-fueled turkey fryers, which can lead to devastating burns, destruction of property, and other injuries. Additionally, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the organization that certifies safe products, does not certify these types of fryers with its UL label. Both organizations discourage the use of open-flame fryers due to the following:
- Turkey fryers tip easily which spills their contents and causes the oil to ignite.
- Overfilling the fryer is common. The oil spills out of the pot when the turkey is placed in the fryer, engulfing the whole unit in flames.
- With no thermostat controls, the oil is prone to overheating to the combustion point.
- The handles and lid get extremely hot, which can cause severe burns.
- Since the unit is designed for outdoor use, rain or snow can fall on the unit, splattering the oil and converting the water to scalding steam.
Despite these hazards, if you still plan on using a turkey fryer, please follow these safety guidelines:
- Always use the fryer outdoors on a flat surface, safely away from structures, wooden decks, and covered patios. No matter what, DO NOT be tempted to use the fryer in a garage.
- Have the correct kind of fire extinguisher nearby and ready to use.
- To ensure you use the right amount of oil, place a thawed turkey in the fry pot and add enough water to cover the bird by ½”. Remove the turkey and mark the water level. Dump the water and thoroughly dry the pot and the turkey. Fill the pot with oil to the marked level.
- Do not leave the fryer unattended. Monitor the temperature of the oil with a thermometer to prevent the oil from overheating and catching fire. If the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn the gas off.
- Ensure the turkey is COMPLETELY THAWED to prevent a fire or explosion hazard.
- Raise and lower the turkey slowly to prevent oil splatter, burns, and fire. Use metal/stainless steel tools to lower and raise the turkey. Wear protective clothing, such as tight-fitting long sleeves, fire and heat retardant gloves, apron, and safety goggles to prevent burning yourself.
- Keep children and pets away from the fryer to prevent tipping, even after the turkey is done. The oil is dangerously hot for hours.
- Stand upwind of the propane tank and fryer so heat blows away from you.
Never deep-fry a frozen turkey, experts warn. The result? A dangerous eruption of flames: According to USA Today, Meredith Carothers, a food safety expert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, called deep-frying a turkey a “cool way” of preparing a Thanksgiving classic that “has gained a lot of popularity over the years.” But she warned that if your family wants to deep-fry a turkey, there are some important safety tips you should know to avoid a holiday disaster. Visit the NFPA for downloadable resources on fire and cooking safety.
From the HealthySimulation Family to You and Your Family: Enjoy this time of the year with family and friends. Remember to stay safe this holiday season!
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