Never leave a stove, oven, or grill unsupervised. Turn off the stove when leaving the kitchen, even if only for a short period of time. Additionally, turn on a timer when using the oven.

Keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels – away from kitchen appliances that are generating heat. Also, avoid wearing loose clothing or sleeves that can catch fire or become stuck on handles.

Keep kids and pets away from the cooking areas and at least several feet away from the stove. Children may want to assist with preparations, while pets are attracted by the smell of food. Keep hot pots on the stove back burners to keep them out of reach of children.

To prevent serious burns, keep protective potholders or oven mitts within reach in the event a hot pot or pan may quickly boil over or overcooks. Invest in a fire extinguisher and keep it near the kitchen in case of a household fire.

While deep-frying makes for tasty, crispy turkeys, it also uses oil at a very high temperature. Never use a deep fryer indoors, in a garage, or on a covered patio. Instead, be sure you’re in an outside area with good ventilation. Don’t overfill the fryer with oil and keep children and pets away as the container can easily tip over.