City of Russell Fire Department Offers Thanksgiving Safety Tips

The City of Russell Fire Department would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. They hope you enjoy your time with family but want you to stay safe this holiday.

Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.

Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.

Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

Keep knives out of the reach of children.

Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.

Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.

Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.

Ensure when frying a turkey that the fryer is far away from the house.

Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Ensure your turkey is completely thawed before dropping it into hot oil.

Lower your thawed turkey into the oil. Ensure it is dry and does not have water on the outside or inside. Water will cause a violent reaction with the hot oil causing the oil, propane and any other items close to the fryer to catch fire.

(Information courtesy City of Russell Fire Department.)