With pots boiling, ovens baking and skillets sizzling, Thanksgiving can be a hazardous day in the kitchen. The Underwriters Laboratories, a product safety testing organization, offers the following advice for a safe holiday:
Turn pot toward the stove: Pot handles can get bumped when several people are bustling around a busy kitchen.
Take a pot holder with you when you leave the kitchen: Try to stay in the kitchen while food is cooking, but if you must leave the room, the pot holder serves as a reminder that the stove needs monitoring.
Don’t hold your child while cooking: Fussy children can get too close to hot pans and plates.
Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing when cooking: Holiday time can mean frilly blouses, which could easily catch fire over a stove.
Keep your cooking area clutter free: Items on cluttered counters can get knocked into open flames, causing a fire.
Safety first: Families should have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Keep a flame-resistant oven mitt, pot holder or lid nearby to smother any flames.
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