The American Red Cross is urging families to be extra careful in the kitchen this Thanksgiving. The organization says Thanksgiving Day -- and the day before -- are the two highest-risk days of the year for home cooking fires in the United States. National numbers show cooking sparks an average of 158,400 home fires every year, accounting for nearly half of all home fires. And the Red Cross says most of them happen when food is left unattended.
To help prevent holiday disasters, the Indiana Region of the Red Cross is offering a list of safety reminders:
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling; use timers; avoid loose clothing; keep kids and pets at least three feet from the stove; and keep flammable items -- like towels, packaging, and wooden utensils -- away from heat sources.
- Officials also recommend keeping the kitchen free of grease buildup and having a fire extinguisher on hand. And before turning in for the night, double-check to make sure all appliances are off.
- The Red Cross also stresses the importance of working smoke alarms -- near the kitchen, on every level of the home, and inside and outside bedrooms.
Alarms should be tested monthly, with batteries swapped out once a year. Help may be available for families who can't afford alarms.
The organization points to its Home Fire Campaign, launched in 2014, which has already helped save more than 2,500 lives across the country through safety education and free smoke-alarm installations. More fire-safety tips can be found at redcross.org/fire.