Transcript
W WA AY YN NE ESSB BO OR RO O FFIIR RE ED DE EPPA AR RT TM ME EN NT T FFIIR E P R E V E N T I O N a n d L I F E S A F E T RE PREVENTION and LIFE SAFETY YE ED DU UC CA AT TIIO ON N November/ December 2012
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Safely Deep Frying a Turkey Each year, Americans prepare a whopping 45 million turkeys for the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast. However, for those who decide to center their meal around a fried turkey, the potential hazards of cooking that dinner in the turkey fryer can be far worse than putting on a few extra pounds. UL is urging consumers to take extra caution if they are going to use turkey fryers this holiday season. Manufacturers have made strides toward enhancing product features in an attempt to make turkey fryers safer for consumers. These new features include designing non-heat conducting handles and sturdier stands; but, based on continued observation, turkey fryers still pose a considerable risk if not used correctly Proponents of deep fried turkey claim that this cooking method produces a very flavorful, moist turkey. However, not all people know that deep frying a turkey can be very dangerous. Precautions should be taken to ensure no one is injured by the turkey fryer or hot oil during the cooking process. Deep Frying a Turkey: Is It Worth the Risk? Underwriters Laboratories, a product safety certification organization, warns against several dangers to using turkey deep fryers.
Turkey fryers tip over easily, causing dangerous spills of super hot cooking oil.
Some users overfill the fryer with oil, which may cause oil to spill when the turkey is placed in the fryer. This may lead to a dangerous fire or severe burns.
Partially frozen turkeys may cause spillover and result in fire as well.
Combustion may occur if the oil overheats.
The pot, lids, and handles become extremely hot, posing a burn hazard.
Only the person cooking the turkey can decide if the risks above are worth the reward. As long as turkey fryers are available for purchase, however, many individuals will choose to assume that risk. How to Stay Safe While Cooking a Turkey in a Deep Fryer Individuals can take precautionary measures to stay safe while deep frying a turkey. Here are six personal safety tips to keep in mind to make cooking a turkey this way somewhat safer: 1.
Carefully read all cooking and safety instructions that accompany the turkey fryer. Make sure to keep oil below the maximum fill line, and don’t overheat the oil. Many turkey deep fryers don’t have a built-in thermostat, so an accurate thermometer is essential.
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To guard against a turned over deep fryer, make sure it has a stable base.
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Before cooking a turkey, make sure it is completely thawed. Wipe off any excess moisture before lowering the turkey into the oil to avoid unnecessary oil splatters caused when water contacts oil. To this end, also make sure to be careful with marinades. Some deep fried turkey recipes call for injectable marinades, but the marinade solution might serve as unnecessary liquid that will cause the oil to spatter.
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Lower the raw turkey very slowly into the hot oil. For added safety, recruit a second person to assist.
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Do not attempt to touch the turkey deep fryer with bare hands; use potholders at all times.
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Do not use the turkey deep fryer indoors. Set it up outdoors (not in a garage) and away from wooden structures like decks.
In addition to the above safety tips, individuals should keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of fire and make sure to set up the turkey deep fryer on a flat surface. Children and pets should never be allowed to go near the turkey deep fryer during or after the turkey cooking process. The oil in the deep fryer will remain very hot for hours after the cooker has been turned off, so it’s best to keep children and pets away until the oil has been discarded completely.
As the holidays approach, the Waynesboro Fire Department is urging people to look for and eliminate potential dangers from holiday lights and decorations that could lead to fires and injuries. Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat thousands of people for injuries, such as falls, cuts, and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in hundreds of fires each year, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property loss and damage. Keep your family safe this holiday season by following these safety tips.
Holiday Lights Maintain Your Holiday Lights Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.
Do not leave holiday lights on unattended!
Holiday Decorations Trees When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles. When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not block doorways.
Use Only Nonflammable Decorations All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant. In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
Don't Block Exits Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit way puts you and your family at risk.
Candle Care Avoid Using Lit Candles Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
If You Do Use Lit Candles Make sure candles are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Never leave a room or go to bed with candles burning.
Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame – candles, lighters, or matches.
Fireplaces/Wood Stoves Never Burn Wrapping Paper Wrapping paper in the fireplace or wood stove can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney fire. Do not remove fireplace embers or ash, or if you do, place them in a metal container with a lid and cover them with water. Do not place them in a plastic or paper bag or other container that is not fireresistant. Do not dispose of them indoors or close to your home or another structure.
As in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan!
For more information contact us at (540) 942-6730. The Waynesboro Fire Department installs smoke alarms and replaces smoke alarm batteries free to the residents of the City of Waynesboro. Resources: Underwriters Laboratories, National Fire Protection Association, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and United States Fire Administration
