Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment and the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department is offering a few safety reminders for the holiday.
• Stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey so you can check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. Kids should stay 3 feet away.
• Make sure children stay away from hot foods and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not danging off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — high up in a locked cabinet.
• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.