BETHEL

SAFETY MATTERS – State of Delaware Issue CCXXVII Dec. 2025

Consumer Product Safety Commission Offers Safe Cooking Tips for a Joyful Holiday \Season
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
issuing an urgent reminder that the holiday season marks
the most dangerous time of year for cooking-related fires
and injuries.

Forty-five percent of annual residential fires are cooking-related, according to CPSC’s report on Residential Fire and Loss Estimates. Cooking fires spike on Thanksgiving Day, with an average of 1,400 cooking fires. That’s more than three times the daily average of cooking fires.  “Every year, we see preventable fires and injuries caused by cooking accidents during the holidays,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman. “We’re urging everyone to stay focused when in the kitchen because a few minutes of attention can make the difference
between a happy holiday and a heartbreaking one.” 

Follow CPSC’s practical holiday cooking safety tips:
• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stand by your
pan!
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from
the cooking area.
• Keep flammable items, like oven mitts, wooden
utensils and food packaging, away from the stovetop.
• Turn pot handles inward to prevent accidental spills
and burns.
• If a grease fire starts, smother the flames by sliding a
lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Never use
water on a grease fire.
• Have a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use
it.

Turkey fryers create particular risks, causing fires, injuries
and property damage. Remember COOK when using one.
C: Carefully follow manufacturer’s instructions.
O: Overheat–Never overheat oil and use an oil with
a high smoke point.
O: Overfill–Never overfill the oil in your turkey fryer.
K: Keep the fryer out of the garage, off the deck and
away from the house.
Always, make sure you have a working smoke alarm
on each level of your home, outside sleeping areas and
inside bedrooms.
Go to https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education for more information.

December 10, 2025, through January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local law enforcement will step up efforts to stop impaired driving and protect road users’ safety in alignment with the winter holiday high-
visibility enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

· Always drive 100% sober. Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many.
· Plan ahead: Before you have even one drink, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make this decision, you might not make the best one. You have options to get home safely: designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or rideshare.
Getting home safely is always worth it.
· Designate: If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
· Report: If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
· Be a friend: If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.

Did You Know?

62% of people who died in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2020 were the alcohol-impaired drivers themselves; 38% were passengers of the alcohol-impaired drivers, drivers or passengers of another vehicle, or nonoccupants (such as a pedestrian).
Go to www.nhtsa.gov to get more facts about drinking and driving.

DECEMBER IS SAFE TOYS & GIFTS AWARENESS MONTH

This holiday season, consider these guidelines and concerns when choosing safe toys and gifts.
• Buy age-appropriate gifts. What is the recommended age and developmental level?
• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Does it have sharp edges, loose or breakable parts?
• Check labels for testing by the American Society for Testing and Material Standards.
• Are you giving sports equipment? Is there accompanying protective gear?
• Pay particular attention to small parts, magnets, button batteries or other easily swallowed hazards.
• Is it made of fabric? Is it labeled flame resistant or flame retardant?
• Is it stuffed or plush? Is it washable?
• Be very cautious with toys that launch projectiles, such as BB guns, slingshots, and darts.
• Before purchasing, check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website for warnings and recalls.
Go to https://www.cpsc.gov/ for more toy safety information.