Thanksgiving Safety: Tips for safe cooking and travel

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  As the end of the year is winding down and Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, the 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office would like to remind all Team Dover members to be safe over the holidays.

On Thanksgiving, approximately 2,000 residential house fires occur in the United States resulting in an average of five deaths and 25 injuries. The leading cause of these fires is related to cooking accidents. These accidents can be as minor as leaving a burner on after cooking or as serious as spilling grease that catches fire.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than the average day. A majority of these cooking fires are contributed by deep frying your Thanksgiving bird. The 436th AW Safety Office has a few safety tips to keep in mind when using a deep fryer.

- Propane-fuelled turkey fryers must be used outdoors.
- Turkeys must be completely thawed before placing in the fryer to ensure oil will not splatter.
- Ensure you have the proper level of oil so it does not overflow when you submerge the turkey and start a fire.
- Use extreme caution when placing and removing the turkey from the fryer to ensure it is not dropped back in causing hot grease to splatter.
- Do not allow children to be in the vicinity of a turkey fryer and ensure the fryer is stable especially if it is on a stand.
- In the case of a fire, do not use water. A person should keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher close by at all times.

However, Thanksgiving Day accidents stretch far beyond the kitchen. According to the Department of Transportation, the six-day long Thanksgiving travel period accounts for a 44 percent increase of long-distance trips of 50 miles or more.

Lorie Bellamy, 436th AW Safety Office ground safety manager, said all Team Dover members need to exercise extreme caution while traveling over the holidays.

"Thanksgiving means gearing up for a turkey feast, football showdowns and fun with family and friends," said Bellamy. "It also means braving some of the worst holiday traffic conditions of the year."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists Thanksgiving as the deadliest holiday to travel on and there has been an average of 567 deaths per year since 1982 and 41 percent of those fatalities were alcohol related.

Bellamy and the rest of the Safety Office offer tips to keep Airmen and their families safe during holiday travel.

- Avoid traveling on Wednesday; it is the heaviest day for travel.
- Be well rested before traveling a long distance; fatigue and driving are a lethal combination.
- Wear your seat belts at all times and ensure your children are properly restrained in the appropriate car seats.
- Do not be distracted; cell phones and driving do not mix.
- Fuel up; do not head out on a long trip without a full tank of gas.  Also check fluids and tire pressures before you leave.
- Watch for weather and check forecasts; if driving in snowy conditions slow down and increase your following distance.
- If you are consuming alcohol at a gathering, use a designated driver.

For more information on holiday safety, contact the safety office at (302) 677-3369.