Nov. 25, 2019 – Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday of many Americans, and as you’re enjoying time with family and friends on that special day, the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Eskenazi Health wants you to be aware of numerous safety issues we should all take precautions against.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day each year for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving. According to the NFPA, there are more than three times as many cooking-related fires on Thanksgiving than the daily average.

Eskenazi Health recommends someone should remain in the kitchen at all times to help protect children and others from suffering burn injuries from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

Make sure cords from countertop appliances are not dangling within easy reach of a child, and always keep knives, other sharp objects, matches and utility lighters safely stored and away from children. Test your smoke alarms to make sure they’re working properly, and do all you can to keep floors clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, bags, etc.

“Through the years we’ve seen a number of Thanksgiving-related burns and other types of injuries at Eskenazi Health, and we hope everyone focuses on precautions that lessen the possibility of mishaps during this special time,” said Dr. Rajiv Sood, medical director of the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center. “Paying attention to a few safety tips will allow everyone the opportunity to relax and enjoy their loved ones without having to be concerned about an injury that could spoil the day for everyone.”

In addition to encouraging safety in the home, Dr. Sood also suggests everyone be aware of the dangers of a relatively new Thanksgiving activity that should always take place outside.

As we’ve seen in recent years, deep-frying Thanksgiving turkeys has substantially grown in popularity throughout the U.S. Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials. Never use the fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage, or other enclosed space, and never leave a fryer unattended.

Be mindful that an overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted, and a small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.

Never let children or pets near the fryer during or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours. Keep all-purpose fire extinguishers nearby and if a fire breaks out, call 911 immediately.

Verified by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association, the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center is regarded as one of the finest and most progressive burn centers in the United States. For more information on burn prevention, please call the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center’s burn prevention hotline at 1.866.339.BURN.

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CONTACT: Tom Surber
Phone: 317.880.4793
Cell: 317.402.9327
Email: thomas.surber@eskenazihealth.edu