Thanksgiving 2017: Safety Tips From PG County Fire Department

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Millions of people will gather for Thanksgiving 2017 to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. No matter whether you're going for tradition or striking out in new directions, food-wise, Thanksgiving is the time when the ovens, burners, microwaves, grills and hot plates are all going strong.

"Everyone needs to keep Safety First and by doing so our citizens, visitors and businesses can avoid tragedy and disruption of their holiday festivities," Prince George's County Fire Chief Benjamin M. Barksdale said in a statement.

The Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department offers the following safety tips to ensure that all citizens and residents will enjoy a safe and festive Thanksgiving holiday:

• Overnight guests should be instructed on your exit drill from the home and designated meeting place for your family. Sleep with bedroom doors closed.

• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room. A standard Class ABC multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher is recommended. Know how to use your fire extinguisher.

• Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.

• Keep the kitchen off limits to young children and adults who are not helping with food preparations. This will lessen the possibility of kitchen mishaps.

• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. Clothing can catch on fire and jewelry can become entangled with pot handles, causing spills and burns.

• Cook on the back burners when possible, and turn pot handles inward so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.

• Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.

• The Fire/EMS Department strongly encourages the use of battery powered candles and discourages the use of candles with an open flame. If you use candles; they should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be placed where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not accidentally brush against them. The candleholder should be completely non-combustible and difficult to knock over. The candle should not have combustible decorations around it.

• If smoking is allowed inside, provide guests with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After guests leave check inside, under upholstery, and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.

The Fire/EMS Department also offers the following tips for using turkey fryers:

• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Turn off flame when placing turkey into the pot.
• Use turkey fryers outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other combustible materials.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix; water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
• Always follow manufacturers instructions on the set-up and use of the fryer.
• Inspect the propane tank and all associated tubes and connections to ensure there are no leaks of the flammable gas.
• Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.
• The National Turkey Federation recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.

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