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. By using fire-wise common sense, citizens and residents can make sure tragedy does not disrupt 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.

The men and women of the Fire/EMS Department recognize the popularity in use of a Turkey Deep-Fryer for cooking and while we can not fully endorse their use we ask that you use extra care and vigilance if you opt to use one. The following precautions should be exercised when using Turkey Deep-Fryers.

1.      Only use outdoors, at least 30 feet from any structure, and on a concrete or non-combustible surface.

2.      Keep all activity a safe distance from cooking area.

3.      Have an extinguisher, bucket of sand, or extinguishing agent nearby.

4.      Follow manufacturer’s instructions on the proper use of these devices.

Citizens and residents may request a smoke alarm installed in their home, free of charge, by contacting our Livable Communities Smoke Alarm Hotline at 301-864-SAFE or by visiting our web site at www.pgfireems.com