The Reno Fire Department has provided the following safety tips for Thanksgiving so that everyone can enjoy the holiday without getting sliced and diced with sharp knives or burning down the entire house in a blaze of unhappy glory.
“As we begin to make plans to gather with friends and family this holiday season, it’s important that citizens know that cooking-related fires are a leading cause of home fires in America,” Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran said. “We want to remind residents to be safe in the kitchen this Thanksgiving holiday.”
Here are those tips:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking turkey, and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
- Make sure children stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep floors clear so you don’t trip over children, toys, pocketbooks or bags (or small pets! -Ed.)
- Keep knives out of the reach of children (and swords and other sharp objects! -Ed.)
- Be sure electrical cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle (or a lit anything! -Ed.)
- Make sure smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Happy Thanksgiving!
