Thanksgiving is a time for joy and gratitude, but it also comes with increased risks in the kitchen. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), cooking fires triple on Thanksgiving Day compared to an average day, posing a significant threat to households. With nearly 150,000 cooking fires annually, it’s crucial to prioritize safety measures in your kitchen.

Here’s how to protect yourself and your loved ones during this festive season and throughout the year.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is alerting consumers that the threat of fires in the kitchen triples on Thanksgiving Day. From 2009 through 2011, there was an average of about 1,300 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day. This is more than three times the average daily rate from 2009 through 2011 of about 400 cooking fires a day.

When it comes to fires in the home, cooking fires are number one. They accounted for nearly 150,000 fires (more than 40 percent of all annual unintentional residential fires) each year from 2009 through 2011. Unattended cooking is the top cause of cooking fires. Cooking fires also caused the most home fire-related injuries, with an estimated annual average of nearly 27 percent, or 3,450 injuries yearly.

Overall, CPSC estimates an average of 362,300 unintentional residential fires, 2,260 deaths, 12,820 injuries, and nearly $7 billion in property damage attended by the fire service occurring each year between 2009 and 2011.

Tips for Safe Cooking

Never Leave Your Pan If you are frying, grilling, or broiling food, stay in the kitchen, and don’t leave your cooking unattended…be sure to stand by your pan! Follow this advice to avoid disaster on Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

Don’t Wearing Loose-Fitting Clothing To stay safe in the kitchen, avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges or ovens.

Keep Kids Away from Stove Watch children closely, so they don’t come into contact with cooking food or hot stovetops. Turn pan handles toward the back of the stove to prevent kids and others from spilling a pan’s scalding contents onto themselves.

Cover a Pan with a Lid to smother the flames. Never pour water or flour on a fire.

Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

In the event of a fire, Call 911.

Read Other Blog Posts

Family decorating tree

Decorate Safely During the Holidays

While holiday decorations can be fun and beautiful, they can also present fire hazards. To keep your home and family safe throughout this holiday season, consider the following decorating tips.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for a Happy Holiday

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, share a delicious meal, and reflect on all we’re grateful for.  To help you celebrate safely and ensure that your holiday is filled with joy, not unexpected mishaps. here are some tips to keep in mind.
Car tire

Vehicle Breakdown Safety Basics

No one ever plans to experience a vehicle breakdown. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and be prepared in order to handle such a situation safely. Implement the following guidance to ensure you remain safe and injury-free in the event that you get stuck on the road.
Calculator

How Insurers Calculate Premiums

Depending on the type of policy, an insurance premium must be paid monthly, twice a year or annually. Each policy type will have also have a different premium amount based on the coverage and policyholder. It’s essential to understand how premiums are calculated so you can secure the best deal without sacrificing coverage.
Drowsy

Preventing Drowsy Driving

Every year, the National Sleep Foundation organizes Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while fatigued.
Smoke Detector

Daylight Saving Time Change: A Perfect Reminder to Check Your Smoke and CO Detectors

Daylight savings time is a perfect opportunity to keep your home safe by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Time change days are memorable markers, making it easy to establish this habit without any extra reminders.
Flooding

Why Flood Insurance is Essential: Lessons from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

The devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have shown that flood risk isn’t limited to coastal areas. These storms have highlighted a crucial gap that individuals and businesses need to be aware of: flood damage is generally not included in typical home, condo, renters, or commercial property insurance, making a separate flood insurance policy essential for true protection.
Deer

Defensive Driving to Avoid Deer Collisions

With deer mating season in full swing from October through December, drivers face an increased risk of collisions. As deer are more active, especially around dawn and dusk, habitat loss has pushed them closer to roadways. Here’s how defensive driving can help you avoid an accident.
Driving Car

Factors Affecting Your Car Insurance Rate

The cost of auto insurance is influenced by a wide range of factors. Together, these variables shape the overall cost of auto insurance. With this in mind, it can be helpful to better understand how the following elements may impact your rates:

Visit Our Homeowners Insurance Page

Homeowners Insurance

At Murphy Insurance, we take great care in assessing your options for homeowners insurance to ensure you receive the most favorable value. Our dedication to serving you entails collaborating with highly rated insurance providers and conducting comprehensive assessments of available choices. We aim to achieve the ideal equilibrium between affordability and coverage that suits your needs. Please let us provide you with a customized homeowners insurance quote.