Please be safe this Thanksgiving and if you are using a turkey fryer here are some guidelines to follow.

Insurance company statistics show that more grease and cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year.

The National Fire Protection Association reports an average of five deaths, 60 injuries, and more than $15 million in property damage each year.

More than one-third of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors at a safe distance from any buildings or trees and keep the fryer off any wooden structures, such as a deck or patio.

• Avoid a hot oil spill by first filling the pot with cold oil and then lowering the thawed turkey into the pot to determine how much oil should be added or removed.

• Shut off the fuel source or flame when adding the turkey to the hot oil to prevent a dangerous flare-up if oil does spill over the rim.

• Make sure your turkey is properly thawed before lowering it slowly into the pot.

• Never leave a hot turkey fryer unattended.

• Do not use ice or water to cool down oil or extinguish an oil fire.

• Keep an approved fire extinguisher nearby.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 at 11:36 am and is filed under Public Relations.