Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Armour Law Group would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  Here are some Thanksgiving safety tips to ensure safety whether you’re traveling to a friend or family member’s house or staying home for the holidays.  

Thanksgiving Safety Tips in the Kitchen

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving Day results in more cooking-related fires than any other day of the year. In fact, the chance of a cooking fire occurring on Thanksgiving Day is three times as high as any other day of the year! Turkey fryer fires and candles also contribute to the increased fire risk. These fires are often accompanied by serious burns and other related injuries.

Fire Safety and General Kitchen Safety

• Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are fully operational.
• Never leave the stove unattended while cooking. Same goes for your turkey, never leave the house while the turkey is in the oven.
• Keep children away from the stove and any hot foods or liquids, steam and grease burns can be extremely painful and often severe.
• Keep knives and any matches or lighters in a safe location away from children.
• Ensure that the floor in the kitchen area is clean and free of any purses, shoes or toys so that no one trips or falls while cooking or moving hot pans and planners.

Turkey Fryers

• Never use a turkey fryer indoors, in a garage or under a covered patio.
• Never overfill the oil level in the fryer.
• Most turkey fryer fires occur while the oil is being heated. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot oil on anyone and anything in close proximity. The sides, lids and handles of these fryers can become extremely hot and cause serious burns.
• Wear flame-resistant oven mitts and safety goggles when submerging or removing the turkey and when handling the lid or handles.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and only use oil that is recommended by the manufacturer. Different types of oil have different types of heating temperatures.
• Completely thaw the turkey before frying.
• Avoid marinating the turkey prior to frying.
• Turn off the fuel source before submerging the turkey into the oil.
• Never leave the fryer unattended.
• Have a fire extinguisher handy when frying a turkey and never use water to extinguish a grease fire.
• Keep the area around the fryer a children-free and pet-free zone, and always remember that oil will remain dangerously hot for several hours.

If you or a loved one have been injured or seriously burned as a result of someone else’s negligence this Thanksgiving, it is important that you contact your Lake Nona personal injury attorney immediately.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips When Traveling

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year. The increase in traffic, particularly on our nation’s highways, increases the likelihood of traffic-related accidents.

• Always leave extra time for yourself when traveling, especially if there’s bad weather. The last thing you need is to be stressed out and rushing during crazy holiday traffic and risking a potential accident.
• If you’re driving a long distance to your destination, make sure items in your car are properly secured and that they won’t become a hazard if you have to stop suddenly.
• If you’re transporting food, use containers with tight fitting lids to prevent spills.
• Make sure any pets that are traveling with you are properly secured in a crate or harness.
• If leaving your home for the week or weekend, make sure all doors and windows are locked. It’s also a good idea to have a neighbor or someone you trust to check on your home daily, get your mail, and maybe move your car. This can deter burglars who think that your house may be an easy target because it’s empty.
• Never announce your trip on social media on public social networks. Many burglars use social media as a tool to find houses to hit.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an auto accident, it is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. Our experienced team of Lake Nona personal injury attorneys can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, future medical treatment, loss of wages, pain and suffering, etc.