Thanksgiving Holiday Safety Tips for Homeowners

Thanksgiving is one of the happiest holidays in the U.S., characterized by socializing, gratitude, cooking, eating, and usually excessive drinking. However, it is also synonymous with injuries and death, with fire being one of the main culprits. Injury and death rates tend to spike around Thanksgiving and remain high for the rest of the year.

The Need for Fire Safety

With all the cooking that happens during Thanksgiving, cooking fires are almost inevitable. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S., accounting for nearly 50% of all U.S. home fires year-round, as reported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The number of home fires tends to increase sharply during Thanksgiving. In 2017, for example, the nation’s fire departments responded to around 1,600 cooking fires.

Here are some of the Thanksgiving holiday safety tips for homeowners you can use to protect your home from cooking fires.

1. Remove Fire Hazards

Ensure there is no flammable material around your stoves such as towels, plastic bags, oven mitts, or even wooden utensils. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher handy. At the same time, ensure the other members of your household can locate and use the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire.

2. Install Smoke Alarms

You must install smoke alarms throughout your home, especially near or in your kitchen, in sleeping areas, and on each level of your home. Also, ensure your smoke alarms are in good working condition. Regularly check the batteries and replace them if necessary.

3. Be Extra Careful with the Deep Fryer

Accroding to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), deep fryers are the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day, causing over $15 million in property damage losses every year. In general, deep fryers are a fire hazard because they tend to overheat and ignite, says the U.S. Fire Administration. Hence, make sure to take all the necessary measures to prevent a deep-fryer fire. These measures include, among others:

• Choosing a well-ventilated area to fry your turkey
• Maintaining the deep-frying oil at the right temperature to avoid overheating
• Wearing suitable gloves to protect your arms and hands from a hot deep fryer
• Keeping children and pets away from your deep fryer

4. Handle Candles with Extra Precaution

Many households across the country use candles to create that cozy, festive holiday mood during the holiday season. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also the peak season for home candle fires, per the National Candle Association. The nation’s fire departments now respond to more than 10,000 candle-related fires every year, as reported by the National Safety Council (NSC). Some of the things you can do to protect your home from candle-related fires include:

• Keep children and pets away from lit candles
• Never leave lit candles unattended
• Keep combustible materials away from burning candles
• Use the right candle holders

Use these Thanksgiving safety tips to protect your home from fires. Are you looking for tips to keep your home and family safe this Thanksgiving? Get the right insurance. Contact the experts at Robert J. Los Insurance Agency in Hamburg, New York, for all your coverage needs.