As Christmas day approaches many people are spending time finishing shopping and preparing for dinner on the big day. Cooking safety is important for families to keep in mind. The most important thing you can do to prevent cooking fires is to stay in the kitchen so you can keep an eye on what’s cooking. According to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the leading factor in cooking fires and fire related deaths. Outdoor gas turkey fryers that cook the bird in hot oil can also be dangerous. Other safety tips are to keep children away from the stove. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, coffee, or even the oven can cause serious burns. Make sure your smoke alarms are working and replace the batteries if needed.