The kitchen is the center of every home during the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. Safety in the kitchen is of the utmost importance on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at the home. According to NFPA, Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. The Covington Fire Department would like to give a few tips to keep you and your family safe on Thanksgiving.

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.

• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.

• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

• Stay inside the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

• If deep frying your turkey, make sure it is outside and never left unattended. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry before placing it in the grease.

• Keep knives out of reach of children.

• Keep floor clear so you do not trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.

• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.