Make Sure Safety is on the Menu This Thanksgiving

National Fire Protection Association Cooking Safety Tips

NEW CITY, NY, - Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, giving thanks, and enjoying delicious meals. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving also sees more than three times the daily average of home cooking fires, making it the peak day for fire incidents each year. In fact, unattended cooking remains the leading cause of these fires and related deaths.

As you prepare your Thanksgiving meal, the Rockland County Department of Health urges residents to take essential safety precautions to keep their family and home safe from cooking-related fires. Following a few simple cooking safety tips from the NFPA can make all the difference:

• Stay in the Kitchen & the home: Never leave anything cooking on the stove top unattended. If there is anything in the oven stay in the home.
• Keep Flammable Items Away: Keep all materials away from heat sources.
• Be Cautious with Kids: Supervise them and keep them away from the stove, hot foods & liquids, and other potential dangers.
• Check Your Smoke Alarms: Before cooking, ensure your smoke alarms are in proper working condition.

By following these tips, we can all help reduce the risk of cooking fires on Thanksgiving.

The Rockland County Healthy Neighborhoods Program offers home visits to identify and discuss health and safety issues in the home for eligible residents, including low-income residents, seniors, and at-risk families. They discuss fire safety, carbon monoxide safety, and cooking safety and provide free products to help address these issues, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, while supplies last. For more information, call (845) 364-3290.

For more information about Thanksgiving fire safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association. 

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