Thanksgiving is the number one day for home cooking fires in the United States. The day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve follow close behind. In fact, four times more cooking fires happen on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year.

General Cooking Safety

Before you start cooking

• Make sure your oven, stovetop, and cookware are clean and free of grease buildup.

While you’re cooking

• Stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on your food. Never leave stoves, ovens, or other heat sources unattended.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• Grease and hot liquids can splash. Keep pot handles turned inward and stay alert.
• Wear short sleeves or roll up long sleeves so your clothes don’t catch fire.
• Use dry oven mitts or pot holders to handle hot pans.
• Set timers to help track cooking times.
• Keep anything that can burn, like food wrappers, towels, pot holders, and plastic, away from burners.
• When you’re finished, turn off all cooking appliances.

If there is an oven fire

• Keep the door closed and call 911 right away.

 Deep frying a turkey?  Follow these tips!

Before you fry

• Use a sturdy, approved turkey fryer with four legs and a built-in thermostat.
• Set up the fryer on a flat, level surface outdoors—far away from buildings, decks, garages, trees, and anything that can burn.
• If you use a gas-powered fryer, check the propane tank and hose connections for leaks before turning it on.
• Never use a turkey fryer indoors.

Preparing the turkey

• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry before frying.
• Do not stuff the turkey. Remove the bag of gizzards before cooking.
• Lower the turkey into the oil slowly to prevent splashing.

While you fry

• Never leave the fryer unattended.
• Wear fry gloves or heat-resistant gloves.
• Remember that hot oil can cause serious burns and can ignite quickly if it splashes.

After you fry

• Let the oil cool completely before moving or disposing of it.
• Do not pour oil down the drain or dump it outside. Put cooled oil into a leak-proof container, like the bottle it came in, and throw it in your household trash.

Did you know that unwashed hands cause the most food-borne illnesses? The food safety experts at Alexandria Health Department collected the top 10 key tips to reduce your risk of food-borne illnesses this holiday season and throughout the year! Learn more.

Each year, fires that occur during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. Here are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

PREVENTING CHRISTMAS TREE FIRES

• Longing for a live tree? Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• How to select a live tree: Needles should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
• Caring for your live tree: Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be easily ignited by heat, flame, or sparks. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Disposing of your tree: Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly.
• Choosing an artificial tree: If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS 

•  Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
• Inspect lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Don't overload electrical outlets! Do not link more than three light strands. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Never leave holiday lights on while unattended!

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS 

•  All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can throw off dangerous sparks and produce a chemical buildup in the home that could cause an explosion.
• Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never put lit candles on a Christmas tree. Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame -- candles, lighters or matches.

REMEMBER EVERYDAY FIRE SAFETY

As in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.

Throughout the holiday season, the Alexandria Police Department typically sees an increase in thefts and robberies. Often, shoppers and residents become distracted and vulnerable to holiday crimes. Shoppers have a tendency to carry more cash, valuable items they intend as gifts, and store purchases in plain view in their vehicles, which makes them attractive targets. Make smart decisions to avoid becoming a victim of theft.

Before you leave home: 

• Carry your purse or bag close to your body at all times; if carrying a wallet, keep it in a front pocket.
• Take only one or two credit cards and avoid carrying large amounts of cash to minimize your loss if robbed.
• Use caution when posting status updates on social media websites that you won't be home during the holidays or that you are going to be away from the house shopping.

Staying safe while shopping: 

• Park in a well-lit area as close to the entrance as possible. Lock your car and take your keys with you.
• Place purchases in the trunk of your car so they are out of sight.
• Always remain aware of your surroundings and visually scan the parking lot for suspicious activities or persons.
• Never leave your purse or purchases unattended.
• Avoid dark and/or isolated areas. If unavoidable, ask security to escort you to your vehicle.
• Have your keys in hand so that you are not searching for them once you reach your car.
• As you approach, check around your car to make sure no one is hiding.
• Enter your car and immediately lock the doors behind you.
• Avoid isolated areas or taking a "shortcut" through poorly lit alleys, parking lots, and offices after business hours.
• Keep your cell phone in your purse or pocket
• If talking on your cell phone, stay aware of your surroundings.
• Only carry the cash/cards you intend to use.
• Keep your purse on your shoulder; do not rest it in a shopping cart.
• If leaving bags in your car, put them out of sight in the trunk.
• Pay attention at all times.  Do not get distracted by your phone.
• Do not carry your phone in your hand while walking.

Using online purchase or selling apps:

Are you interested in using online purchase/sell apps to make extra cash for the holiday or to get a bargain? These interactions can also be targeted by thieves.

• Never go to the transaction location alone. Always bring a second person with you.
• Exchange items in well-lit, populated areas
• Only meet a potential buyer or seller in a public place.
• Do not communicate solely through an app or online. It's best to talk to a potential seller or buyer on the phone.
• Trust your instincts. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Never invite a buyer to your home.

Have a safe holiday season. If you do happen to become a victim of theft or see suspicious activity, please call the Alexandria Police Department at 703.746.4444, or if you witness or experience a life-threatening situation, call 911.

Holidays may be stressful due to anxieties about safety and what the future may bring. Some may be facing the holidays without family, friends or co-workers. It may be that we don't have our normal energy level for shopping or entertaining. Although the season can be challenging, there are ways to beat the stress and have meaningful moments with our loved ones. Get valuable tips for reducing stress, understanding kids and holiday stress, and other helpful resources.