Holiday & Covid Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is a festive time of year to enjoy delicious food and time spend time with our families and loved ones.  Cooking and baking are an essential part of the holiday and we never think anything will happen.  Do you know that many property damage claims and injuries can result from unexpected accidents while cooking and preparing for the holidays?
 
Here are some safety tips that you may not think about, but they can help to avoid injury and property damage:
 

1. Keep an extinguisher nearby in case of fire.
   
2. If utilizing a fryer to cook your turkey outdoors, make sure to place the fryer away from any building and roof overhang.  This will prevent your property from catching fire in the event of a flareup.
3. Wearing fire safe apron and mitts that cover and protect your body and arms during this frying process will help to avoid being burned.
4. While the turkey is cooking in the fryer, keep a safe distance away and never put your face or body directly over the fryer.  This will help prevent burns from splashing and bubbling oil.
5. If you can, use a fire safe splash mat under your fryer in case of oil spillage during the frying process. This will also assist in an easy clean up once your turkey is finished and removed from the fryer.
6. It is important to always discard used oil and grease in sealed containers and throw in the proper trash containers.  Never discard oil or grease down your sink drains, disposals or toilets. This can certainly cause a blockage in your plumbing system which can result in a back-up, resulting in water damage to your property.
7. When cooking food in the oven or stove, make sure to utilize oven mitts to prevent oven and steam burns to your hands and arms. 
8. When utilizing glass cookware/bakeware, make sure they are oven safe and always place hot dishes on wood or silicone trivets. This will help prevent shattering when the dishes are removed from hot oven and placed on a cold surface.

 
If you are traveling during these trying times of Covid, we wish you safe travels.  Because you may be unaware of the sanitizing process in many public places, the unknown can create unnecessary stress.  It is important to remember to where a mask, social distance, wash your hands as much as possible and to keep hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes/spray with you at all times.  This will not only help to protect you and your loved ones, but it can also help protect those who are more vulnerable with pre-existing health issues.
 
From our homes to yours, we wish you a very safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!