Silver Cross Hospital Offers Tips to Celebrate Holiday Safely

More than double the amount of home fires occur on Thanksgiving Day than an average day according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In fact, each year over 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day.

Even with the best plans, accidents can still happen. Thanksgiving is a popular time for cooking related burns.

“For a superficial burn, cool the area by running it under cold water until the heat eases and then loosely cover the burn with a sterile dressing,” says Daniel Checco, D.O., Emergency Medicine physician at the Silver Cross Free-Standing Emergency Care Center located at 143^rd St. and Bell Rd in Homer Glen. “And for more severe burns, get to an Emergency Room immediately to seek the correct burn treatment to avoid infection and scarring.”

To help prevent home fires this Thanksgiving, the Red Cross suggests the following tips:

• Keep potholders and food wrappers at least three feet away from heat sources while cooking
• Wear tighter fitting clothing with shorter sleeves when cooking
• Make sure all stoves, and ovens have been turned off when you leave the kitchen
• Set timers to keep track of turkeys and other food items that require extended cooking times
• Turn handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents
• Follow all manufacturer guidelines regarding the appropriate use of appliances

And be prepared to protect yourself from a fire by keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. Read the directions carefully before an actual emergency occurs.