Turkey Deep Fryer Public Service Announcment

Deep-fried turkey on Thanksgiving may be tasty, but it's not worth burning down the house, Underwriters Laboratories warns.

The consumer product safety group has refused to endorse any turkey fryers this holiday season -- which means consumers won't see the familiar UL tag on the cooking gadgets used to cook an untold percentage of the estimated 45 million turkeys on U.S. tables this Thanksgiving.

Manufacturers have made improvements to fryer designs, including non-heat conducting handles and sturdier stands, UL concedes. But the 116-year-old, Illinois-based non-profit said its tests showed the fryers are still dangerous.

"We're worried by the increasing reports of fires related to turkey fryer use," John Drengenberg, UL consumer affairs manager, said in a statement. "Based on our test findings, the fryers used to produce those great-tasting birds are not worth the risks."

To drive the point home, UL created a video of some of its fryer testing -- complete with some pretty impressive flames.

The U.S. Fire Administration said about 4,300 Thanksgiving Day fires occurred each year between 2006 and 2008, resulting in 10 deaths and 50 injuries. Of those fires, 69% were caused by cooking, with 97% being small, confined fires that caused little damage, UL said in a report released earlier this month. How many of those fires were from fryers, the report did not detail.

Based on its claims data from 2005 to 2009, deep-fryer fires number 1,000 a year, with grease and cooking-related claims more than doubling on Thanksgiving as compared to an average day in November.

Between 1998 and 2005, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission logged 112 reports of fires or burns from turkey fryers, most occurring while the oil is being heated before the turkey is put in to cook.

UL offered 10 safety tips for deep-fry die-hards:

• Always use a turkey fryer outside, away from buildings or other flammable materials.
• Never use it on wooden decks or in garages.
• Make sure the fryer is on flat ground before using to reduce the chance of tipping.
• Never leave the fryer alone. UL says most units lack thermostats, meaning an unwatched fryer will continue to heat until it bursts into flames.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer, even after you're done cooking, since the oil can remain hot for hours.
• Don't overfill the fryer.
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. UL also recommends wearing safety goggles to avoid splatter.
• Only cook a completely thawed turkey and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix; water could make the oil spill over, creating a fire or explosion.
• The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed.
• If a fire does start, never use water to extinguish it. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire grows, immediately call 9-1-1.

Christmas Tree Fire Hazards

Water That Tree!

What's a holiday party or even the traditional Christmas morning scene itself without a beautifully decorated tree? If your household, as those of more than 33 million other American homes, includes a natural tree in its festivities, take to heart the sales person's suggestion—"Keep the tree watered." That's good advice and not just to create a fragrant indoor winter wonderland atmosphere. Christmas trees account for 250 fires annually, resulting in 14 deaths, 26 injuries and more than $13.8 million in property damage.¹ Typically shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. Dry and neglected trees can be.

The video clip above from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds "flashover" occurs - that's when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene.

Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, the NIST fire safety engineers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk's bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine's water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree. Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. As NIST fire safety engineers say: REMEMBER, A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE!

Tips For Winter Motorists

As the clocks went back last week and the nights start to get darker, Farmers Insurance is urging motorists to take extra precautions to ensure their vehicles are safe over the winter months, and avoid becoming victims of Christmas crim.

A survey of 1,200 people, discovered that despite the darkness, a large percentage of motorist aren’t taking the necessary safety precautions, as only 32% of drivers park their car in well lit areas and further 24% of driver are leaving their cars running whilst they defrost their windshields.

Furthermore, with the festive season upon us, 72% of motorist are leaving valuable Christmas presents on the back seats, tempting thieves to break into their cars.

This news comes despite the 20% increase in stolen vehicles during the winter months last year.

The extra hours of darkness are allowing more time for thieves to break into vehicles unseen. It is therefore important motorists always park in well lit areas, try to hide any valuable objects away from sight and make sure to lock your car doors.

Please call (801) 432-0220 or email me today so I can make sure you have the coverage you need for the right price.

Life Insurance Awareness Month

This year marks the seventh anniversary of Life Insurance Awareness month, an effort to raise awareness among consumers about the need for life insurance. It is clear that the current recession has further stretched the financial resources for American families, leaving them more vulnerable in the event of an accident or unexpected death. Now more than ever, it is vital that consumers protect their financial security. Life insurance has been providing this kind of protection to Americans for more than 200 years.  I want to help you determine the proper amount of insurance for your family and find a way to keep the cost of the coverage within your budget.  Please call (801) 432-0220 or email me today.