Thanksgiving Safety: How to Keep Your Home Safe

The biggest emergency on Thanksgiving should be whether or not there's enough pumpkin pie for a second serving. Take a few Thanksgiving safety precautions this season to make sure your plans aren't interrupted by bigger problems.

Whether you are cooking a feast for your extended family or you are going to a friend’s house, chances are there will be cooking involved. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home-cooking fires. Here are some ways to stay safe in the kitchen.

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The are an average of 2,300 home fires on Thanksgiving day each year according to the US Fire Administration. Turkey fryers increase your risk of burn or fire hazards. Be sure the oil used to fry the turkey is the right temperature and always fry outside in a well-ventilated area.

Remove anything near the stove that could catch fire, including wooden utensils, oven mitts, plastic bags, or towels.

Be prepared in case of a fire. In case of fire on the stove, shut the stove off, cover the fire or burning pan with a lid, and use the fire extinguisher. Do not use salt, flour, or water to try to put out the fire because these substances could cause a stove fire to flare up. For a fire in the oven, turn the oven off and leave the door closed. Call 911 to report a fire and leave the home.

If you are using a natural gas or propane stove, be careful of a carbon monoxide build up in the home. Run vents in the kitchen, particularly the ones directly over the stove and open any windows or doors in the kitchen at least once an hour to circulate fresh air.

Be careful with candles. If you are lighting candles for decoration or scent, remember to never leave the candles burning unattended, and be sure to keep any items that could catch fire away.

If you are traveling for the holiday, like many people do, you’ll want to make sure your home is protected while you are away. Here are some tips if you are traveling this Thanksgiving.

You may have your privacy settings turned on, but you still never know who could see this private information and what they’ll do with it.

Before you head out, get your home ready to look occupied:

• Set lights on timers. Inside and outside lights should be set on automatic timers to turn lights on and off at various times throughout the night.
• Turn your telephone ringer down. Doing this will prevent someone on the outside from hearing repeated rings that go unanswered. Also review your answering machine message to make sure there is no mention of you being out of town.
• Stop all mail and newspaper delivery. Be sure to stop any daily deliveries, like mail or a newspaper, while you are away. If you don’t want to stop delivery, ask a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail.

Don't make it easy to get into your house when you're not home. A challenge may be the motivation a potential intruder needs to move on down the street.

• Lock all windows and doors. Don’t forget to lock the upstairs windows as well.
• Never leave a key hidden outside. Under a rock, under the mat, or in an outdoor light fixture are all places a burglar will look for your spare key. Instead, leave a key with a trusted neighbor or nearby relative.
• Make sure the garage door is closed. Before you head out, give that garage door one last check.

This Thanksgiving, play it safe both at home and while traveling. Keep these safety tips in mind and be thankful for your home and family’s safety.

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