{"id":23753,"date":"2025-11-25T15:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T21:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=23753"},"modified":"2025-11-25T15:00:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T21:00:52","slug":"thanksgiving-safety-starts-in-the-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/23753-thanksgiving-safety-starts-in-the-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving Safety Starts in the Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment, with four times the average number occurring. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated 1,446 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments on Thanksgiving Day in 2023, reflecting a 388 percent increase over the daily average. On annual average between 2019 and 2023, cooking accounted for the majority of U.S. home fires on Thanksgiving Day (80 percent) and 40 percent of the civilian injuries. Overall, cooking causes over half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%). Ranges and cook-tops account for almost three out of every five home fires reported involving cooking, with ovens accounting for 13% of those fires.<\/div>\n
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\u201cKitchens are especially busy during the holidays, and that rush can lead to distractions and distractions can lead to accidental fires. Set timers, stay focused, or assign specific roles in the kitchen to help ensure your Thanksgiving meal comes together safely and without incident,\u201d\u00a0says Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow<\/strong>. \u201cRemember, staying alert and keeping a close eye on what\u2019s on the stove or in the oven is the simplest way to prevent a cooking fire.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Nearly 500,000 people seek medical treatment for burn injuries each year in the United States, and an estimated 72 percent of burns occur at home, according to the American Burn Association (ABA). Hot liquids, such as coffee, tea, soup and tap water, can cause serious burn injuries.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAt Camp I Am Me, we meet incredible survivors whose lives were changed in an instant by preventable burn injuries. As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, we want to remind everyone that a few extra minutes of preparation and safety and prevent a lifetime of pain,\u201d\u00a0said Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Executive Director Philip Zaleski<\/strong>. Deep frying a turkey may be festive, but it must be done with extreme care, or better yet, consider safer cooking alternatives. The best holiday memories are made around the table, not in the emergency room.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Here are some tips to keep in mind when preparing food, not just during the holiday season but all year.<\/div>\n