Red Cross urges holiday cooking and candle safety to prevent home fires

(The following press release was provided verbatim by American Red Cross)

Home fires increase significantly during the holiday months, often sparked by cooking accidents, unattended candles or unsafe decorations. The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region urges everyone to take simple steps to stay safe while celebrating – from keeping a close eye on what’s cooking to checking holiday lights and decorations for hazards. By taking precautions now, families can help prevent tragedies and enjoy a safer, happier holiday season.

“One in five people the Red Cross assists after home fires are helped during the holiday months,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “Home fires can strike quickly, leaving you with as little as two minutes to escape. Help protect your loved ones by practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.”

Cooking Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires in the U.S. Follow these safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging and towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance that generates heat.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

Candle and Heating Safety
December is the peak month for candle fires, which cause an average of about 20 home fires per day in the U.S., and heating equipment remains a leading cause of home fires. Follow these tips:

• Consider using battery-operated candles as holiday décor to help keep your family safe.
• If you must use traditional candles, keep them away from anything that could burn and place them out of reach from pets and children. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Provide at least three feet of space for all heating equipment. This is critical because most home heating fire tragedies occur when flammable items like furniture, rugs and drapes are too close.
• Never leave space heaters unattended, as they’re involved in most fatal home heating fires.
• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. And turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Help keep your family safe by testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in two minutes or less.

Prevent Home Fire Tragedies

To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. For more fire safety information – including how to create and practice a home escape plan with your family – visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store.

If You Need Help

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit soundthealarm.org/philly or call 215-299-4029 to schedule an appointment. In the city of Philadelphia, you can also call 3-1-1.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.