Deep Fry Danger

Just a few days before Thanksgiving, holiday chefs should be mindful that while deep frying a turkey may yield a delicious dinner, it can also be dangerous.

Far too often on Thanksgiving Day, more than the bird gets burnt. Over the last decade, turkey fryers have resulted in more than 141 serious fires and hot-oil burns, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“If a turkey fryer is used the way it’s supposed to be used by people who are not impaired by alcohol or drugs, I think they’re fine,” according to Dr. Thomas Esposito, chief of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burns in the Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. “Injuries from turkey fryers are rare, but when they happen to you or a family member, that doesn’t matter – they are very devastating.”

Dr. Esposito provides some helpful safety tips to keep your Thanksgiving holiday injury-free:

• Keep the fryer in full view while the burner is on.
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
• Place the fryer in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures.
• Slowly raise and lower the turkey to reduce splatter and avoid burns.
• Never cook in short sleeves, shorts, or bare feet.
• Protect your eyes with goggles or glasses.
• Don’t overfill fryer with oil. Turkey fryers can ignite in seconds after oil hits the burner.
• Keep a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires close at hand and be familiar with how to operate it.
• Do not use a hose in attempts to douse a turkey fryer fire.

On Thanksgiving Day, there are three times as many fires than any other day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. “It doesn’t matter if it is a turkey fryer or a conventional oven, you should always take great care when using appliances, vehicles and any other device that has the potential to cause great harm to yourself and others if used in a careless, irresponsible manner,” Esposito said.

Additional Source:  Medical News Network.