AMARILLO, TEXAS -- It seems that every Thanksgiving, ProNews 7 reports on a house fire that is generally caused from a cooking incident gone wrong. According to the American Red Cross of the Texas Panhandle, Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires, 90 percent of which are caused by unattended cooking.
The Red Cross said that number can be reduced by taking some basic safety measures.
"We all think of Thanksgiving as a time for family, good food and football, but it's also prime time for cooking fires," said Susan Ginn, Director of Development at the Texas Panhandle Chapter. "Taking a few simple precautions can help everyone have a safe and happy holiday."
Below are the tips being suggested by the Red Cross.
1. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
2. If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you're cooking.
3. Be alert. You won't be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
4. Keep anything that can catch fire-potholders, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels or curtains-away from your stove top.
5. Make sure your sleeves are out of the way when cooking. Wear tighter fitting clothing with shorter sleeves.
6. Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
7. Never hold a child while cooking, drinking or carrying hot foods or liquids.
8. Turn the handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
9. Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
10. Test your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. Replace batteries at least once a year.
