Cityline Construction

Thanksgiving Advice for a Safe and Happy Day!

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – An estimated 46 million turkeys will be consumed by families across the United States this Thanksgiving Day.  This favorite holiday is a time for revelry and is the one day when three generations of family often gather to enjoy a bountiful meal.

At Cityline Construction, Allentown, we also know that the kitchen is the heart of the home and that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), cooking in the home is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, as well as one of the leading causes of home fire deaths.

In 2013, Thanksgiving Day was the leading date for home cooking fires, up 230% above the average number of fires per day. Additionally, children love to be involved in holiday preparations. Therefore, safety in the kitchen is paramount especially on Thanksgiving Day when there’s plenty of activity and distractions in the home.

“Thanksgiving is an enjoyable time to spend with friends and family. It’s also a very stressful time for some who are working in a hot messy kitchen. The best thing to do is take your time and use common sense. Go that extra step and move that turkey fryer away from the house. Same goes for the outdoor grill. Be sure its away from the home, and double check that timer so you don’t burn your turkey,” says Thomas Williams Jr., Director Real Estate, Cityline Construction, Allentown.

Top 11 Fire Prevention Tips for Thanksgiving and every day of the Year

• Remember to remain in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.

• Even a tea kettle left unattended can lead to a fire when all the water is boiled away and the kettle is then, left to burn or melt.

• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently. Your turkey will also taste better under a watchful eye and frequent basting in its own juices.

• Keep children away from the stove. Stoves are a hotbed of injuries and youth need to remain 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 the floor clear so you don’t trip over toys, pocketbooks or bags. Also, 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 young children alone in the kitchen when the stove is actively cooking a meal. The same goes for youth left in a room unattended with a lit candle.

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

• The National Fire Protection Association also discourages the use of gas outdoor turkey fryers.

Additional home fire facts: National estimates of reported fires derived from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and NFPA’s annual fire department experience survey show that in 2009-2013, cooking was the leading cause of reported home structure fires and home structure fire injuries and the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 162,400 home fires involving cooking equipment per year.

These fires caused an annual average of 430 civilian deaths, 5,400 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage. Overall, cooking equipment was involved in 45% of reported home fires, 17% of home fire deaths and 42% of reported home fire injuries. Ranges, with or without ovens, account for the majority (61%) of reported home structure fires involving cooking equipment and even larger shares of associated civilian deaths (86%) and civilian injuries (78%). Unattended equipment is the leading cause of cooking fires. More than half (54%) of non-fatal civilian cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.

Cityline Construction of Allentown specializes in restoration, emergency and disaster services for businesses, institutions and homeowners.  For more information about Cityline, visit www.citylineconstruction.com or call 610-820-5555. Follow Cityline Construction on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/citylineconstructionpa.