By: Tony Matera / twitter @WI_InsSolutions

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather and give thanks for all they have. It is time for football, and of course plenty of good food. With all this food, it is no surprise that Thanksgiving is one of the top days for cooking accidents every year.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 141 serious fires and hot-oil burns have been reported from the use of turkey fryers over the last decade in the United States.

According to the National Fire Protection Association Thanksgiving Day, is the leading day for cooking fires, with three times as many as on an average day.

Here are a few safety tips for those planning to use a fryer:

• Look for the newer fryers with sealed lids to prevent oil spills.
• Keep the fryer in full view while the burner is on.
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
• Place the fryer in an open area away from all walls, fences or other structures.
• Never use the fryer in, on, or under a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, deck or any other structure that can catch fire.
• Slowly raise and lower the turkey to reduce hot-oil splatter and to avoid burns.
• Never cook in short sleeves, shorts or bare feet. Cover all bare skin when dunking or removing bird.
• Protect your eyes with goggles or glasses.
• Immediately turn off the fryer if the oil begins to smoke.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix and water can cause oil to spill over, creating a fire or even an explosion.
• Don't overfill fryer with oil. Turkey fryers can ignite in seconds after oil hits the burner.
• Keep a fire extinguisher appropriate for oil fires close at hand and be familiar with how to operate it.
• Do not use a hose in an attempt to douse a turkey fryer fire.
• If you do burn yourself, or someone else is burned, seek immediate medical attention.
• UL Safety Video: http://youtu.be/yObDuYTfudY

So enjoy your Thanksgiving safely with those you love. And save me some white meat, gravy and a slice of pumpkin pie please!  

 Statistics courtesy of: Loyola University Health System