Thanksgiving Safety

The fall season is the beginning of the holiday season for us. Transforming from summer beaches to fall pumpkins, we still need to be safe when dealing with fires. Two of the leading causes of Thanksgiving fires are carelessness and misuse of equipment (14%) and open flames (13%). To be safe this Thanksgiving, review the following tips:

• Never leave your food unattended while frying or grilling.
• Use a timer and routinely check whatever you’re cooking.
• If frying or deep-frying, keep the fryer outside, away from walls, and free from moisture.
• Never use a glass casserole or lid on the stove or burner, as it may explode from the heat.
• Ensure that pot holders and food wrappers are a safe distance- at least 3 feet!-from warmed surfaces (i.e. the stove). Position those handles so that they face inward.
• Avoid dangling accessories or loose clothes around kitchen fires.
• If using candles or the fireplace, keep these sources of fire shuttered or isolated, and never leave them unattended.
• Never douse a grease fire with water, as the fire can thus spread. Turn off the burner, smother the flames with a lid (wearing an oven mitt!), or douse with baking soda or a fire extinguisher if it’s getting out of hand.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen, and know how to use it.
• Ensure your smoke alarms are connected and working.

Air Fryer

A big topic of safety discussion is using a turkey fryer. An outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryer can be very dangerous. Here at North Myrtle Beach Public Safety, we encourage you to use these fryers very carefully. Follow these tips:

• Most of these fryers can hold up to 5 gallons of hot oil or more. Be aware of the surrounding area and keep it away from walls and other objects.
• Use proper cooking safety equipment. Hot oil can splash on you and cause serious burns.
• Make sure the stand is stable. If the fryer tips over it can cause serious burns.
• When removing the turkey from the fryer go slow and carefully. Dropping the turkey back in can result in splashes of hot oil.

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Video from the NFPA