The best Daytona fire alarm companies (like us) encourage you to prioritize fire safety during the holiday season and throughout the year. We’ve gathered some valuable tips you can be grateful for, ensuring that your Thanksgiving doesn’t involve frying anything other than your turkey.

With the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s easy to put fire safety on the back burner. Travel plans, family gatherings, and elaborate menus shift our focus from the everyday practices that keep us safe. A recent report revealed that around 1,400 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments on Thanksgiving day alone! That’s an increase of 228% over any other day.

At DynaFire, fire safety nevers take a holiday (and neither do we!), so keep these tips in mind amidst the season’s chaos. Post them in your office breakroom for your employees to keep in mind as they spend time with family and friends.

Your Meal Should Be Fire – Not ON Fire

Remember these cooking rules as you prepare for the big day.

• Never leave food cooking on the stovetop. Think an unwatched pot never boils? Try leaving the room.
• If your bird is in the oven, stay home. Don’t set it and forget it to run to the store. Check on your turkey occasionally so it doesn’t overcook or burn.
• Keep pan handles turned toward the back of the stove. You don’t want Aunt Doris to walk by and catch the sleeve of her cardigan on the gravy handle.
• NEVER deep fry a frozen turkey. Plan ahead, thaw your bird, and do the deep frying outside.
• Use timers. These days, we have many timer options – stovetop, countertop, microwave, watches, phones – there’s no excuse for not setting a timer to remind you to check your food. And no, smoke is not how you know your dressing is done.

Office Potluck Safety

Keep some safety tips in mind for your office Friendsgiving, too. 

• Food warmers and crockpots have electrical cords that can get tangled and inadvertently pulled. Keep all the cords safely tucked away on the counter.
• Don’t overload your circuits. Those cords have to be plugged in somewhere. Avoid using a splitter that can put too much strain on your circuit. Surge protectors and extension cords (in good condition) can help spread out the power grab.
• Unplug and turn off all devices before returning to your desks. 

Keep Kids Safe

Children love the excitement of the holiday season, and you may find yourself with a few extras milling around while you’re trying to cook. Keep these kid-friendly tips in mind to keep them safe.

• Keep the kids away from the stove. Three feet is the general rule. Make it a fun game and put tape down around the “hot zones” so they know where they shouldn’t go.
• Mind your knives. Keep them away from the counter’s edge or anywhere tiny hands can reach. 
• Keep cords from dangling off the counter. 

Test Your Fire Alarm

Before your house is full of family and friends, set aside a few minutes to test your fire alarm. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors if you’re not sure how fresh they are. You don’t want to rely on your fire alarm to tell you when dinner’s ready, but you do want it to tell you when there’s a fire.

Daytona fire alarm companies like ours can also come to your office and evaluate your smoke detectors and fire alarms for any potential repair or upgrade needs. 

Check Your Fire Extinguishers

Remember how many cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving? A working fire extinguisher nearby is a simple but lifesaving precaution that can mean the difference between a fun memory and a dangerous situation. 

Know What To Do In Case Of A Fire

Even if you take every precaution, it’s possible that a fire could still break out. Follow these guidelines to keep your holiday as safe as possible.

• For a fire on the stovetop, slide a lid over a flaming pot or pan and turn off the burner. Without oxygen, the fire will be smothered. Keep the pan covered until it cools down.
• For an oven fire, keep the door closed and turn off the heat. Opening the door will give the fire oxygen and allow it to keep burning.
• If you have a wet chemical fire extinguisher (for Class K fires), you may use it for a cooking fire. Dry chemical fire extinguishers should not be used for cooking fires because they are unable to sufficiently cool down a fire that involves grease. The fire suppressant in a dry chemical fire extinguisher is also corrosive and can damage your cooking equipment.
• If a fire becomes more than a lid or fire extinguisher can handle, call 911 and exit the building.

Be Safe Throughout The Season With DynaFire

Daytona fire alarm companies like ours want you to remember these tips for a safe and healthy Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate at the office, home, or travel destination, take Fire & Life Safety with you. Contact our team for more safety tips and to discuss your fire safety needs.