The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is sharing safety tips to ensure Louisiana families stay safe in the kitchen and during family gatherings this Thanksgiving.
“We know the holidays this year are going to be different, especially Thanksgiving, when coming together for an extended meal is at the core of the day’s tradition,” said State Fire Marshal Chief H. “Butch” Browning, “But Louisiana families have to take precautions against COVID-19 just as we stress taking precautions to avoid fire hazards while cooking that traditional meal.”
The SFM recommends following guidelines that suggest avoiding gatherings, of any size, that involve people who do not live in your immediate household. For those planning to have extended family members gather at their home or visiting a family member’s home, the SFM recommends the following:
- Keep the group small and outdoors
- Practice social distancing
- Wear face coverings when not actively consuming food and beverages
- Wash your hands frequently and disinfect shared serving utensils after every use
- If you’re feeling sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and avoid gatherings with anyone
For those planning to cook Thanksgiving dinner at home, the SFM provided the following cooking safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove
- Stay in the home when you are cooking any food item
- Keep children at least three feet away from the stove, sharp objects and hot foods and/or liquids
- Keep electrical cords, matches and lighters out of the reach of children
- Keep the kitchen space clear to avoid tripping hazards
- Make sure you have working smoke alarms
Those planning to fry a turkey this year should consider testing out the appropriate oil level a few days ahead of time with water instead, the SFM says.
Fill up your pot with water, dip the turkey in and if any water overflows, you’ll need to use less oil when you actual conduct the fry on Thanksgiving. Turkeys should also be fully defrosted before being dipped into hot oil.
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