Tips on Avoiding Burn Injuries While Deep Frying Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Deep frying a turkey on Thanksgiving is becoming a popular trend. Some say it is the best way to get the meat of the bird tender and juicy. The downside to cooking your bird this way is that there is an increased chance of fire and or a burn injury. The U.S. Fire Administration has said about 4,300 Thanksgiving Day fires have occurred each year between 2006 and 2008. Not all of the 4,300 fires were caused by deep frying turkeys, but the risk of starting a fire is greater. Common causes of burn injury associated with deep frying a turkey include:

• Oil spilling over from the cooking pot to the burner or flame;
• The potential for the fryer to overheat the oil to the point of combustion;
• Burns resulting from the lid or sides of the cooking pot getting dangerously hot;

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted safety tips for frying turkeys. First of all, do not leave the turkey without supervision and place the fryer in an area where there will not be any fences or walls. As the oil and splatter and cause burns, it is important to take the turkey out slowly. Whether or not you decide to deep fry your turkey, this Tampa personal injury attorney wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving.