Recipe for Holiday Safety

The Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department offers the following safety tips, to ensure that all citizens and residents will enjoy a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. Unfortunately, fire safety and injury prevention guidelines are often overlooked during the holidays. Prince George's County Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones stated, "By using fire-wise common sense, citizens and residents can avoid tragedy and disruption of their holiday festivities. While these tips may not make Thanksgiving dinner taste any better--they will aid in avoiding potential disaster.

• Keep your family and overnight guests safe with a working smoke alarm on every level of the house, in each bedroom and in the halls adjacent to the bedrooms. Test smoke alarms monthly, and replace batteries at least once a year.
• Overnight guests should be instructed on your home’s fire escape plan and designated meeting place for your family.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.
• A standard Class ABC multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher is recommended. Know how to use your fire extinguisher.
• Start holiday cooking with a clean stove and oven.
• Keep the kitchen off limits to young children and adults who are not helping with food preparations. This will lessen the possibility of kitchen mishaps.
• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. Clothing can catch on fire and jewelry can become entangled with pot handles, causing spills and burns.
• Cook on the back burners when possible, and turn pot handles inward so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires and fire-related injuries in Prince George’s County.
• Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.
• Candles are often part of holiday decorations. They should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be placed where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not accidentally brush against them. The candleholder should be completely non-combustible and difficult to knock over. The candle should not have combustible decorations around it.
• If smoking is allowed inside, provide guests with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After guests leave check inside, under upholstery, and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.