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William Shatner Saves The World From…Exploding Turkeys!?

Actor Joins State Farm® Create Online “Docudrama” to Raise Eyebrows and Awareness about the Dangers of Improper Turkey Frying

Bloomington, Ill, Nov. 15, 2011 – William Shatner. Veteran thespian. Accomplished author. Song stylist. Master of the spoken word. Turkey fryer burn survivor.

Cook it outside: More than 1/3 of fires involving a fryer start in a garage or patio. Cook outdoors at a safe distance from any buildings or trees.

His contributions to the entertainment industry are numerous, but an accident with a turkey fryer several years ago made him more than just a hot celebrity. He was a man on fire, literally, and he doesn’t want it to happen to you.

“I love to fry turkey and have been doing it for years but I am not immune to frying accidents,” says Shatner. “In fact, my family now gathers together to watch my mishaps. Several years ago I was even burned on my arms after accidentally dropping the turkey in the hot oil. People need to remember that hot oil and turkey can be a dangerous combination.”

To warn others in the Shatnerverse that these turkey fryer accidents actually do happen, Shatner is teaming with insurance giant State Farm® to produce a short online “docudrama” recounting his experiences.

“Only one person was truly capable of getting this important message across in a fun way. The fact that Mr. Shatner actually experienced a turkey fryer accident only brought more realism to his portrayal,” said David Beigie, State Farm Public Affairs Vice President. “In all seriousness, he’s been a good sport in helping us get the word out about frying safely.”

Thaw the turkey: Make sure your turkey is properly thawed before lowering it into the pot. A frozen or wet turkey can result in dangerous hot oil splattering.

You can see Shatner’s work on the State Farm YouTube Channel. Fans are encouraged to join Shatner’s “Fryers Club” by liking or commenting on the video. In doing so, viewers are committing to take Shatner’s advice to stay safe if they fry a turkey. “Ignorance is the friend of accidents,” says Shatner. “Be enemies with ignorance.”

According to State Farm claims data, more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. In fact, grease and cooking-related claims more than double on Thanksgiving Day compared to an average day in November.

Measure the oil: Avoid an oil spill over by filling the pot with cold oil and then lower the thawed turkey into the pot to determine how much oil to add or remove before cooking.

About State Farm®

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.