Safety in the Kitchen: 8 Tips to Avoid Kitchen Fires

       More fires start in the kitchen than in any other place in the home. In fact,  two of every five home fires start in the kitchen. 44% of home fires, 15% of home fire deaths and 38% of home fire injuries are caused by kitchen fires each year. This is why you have to be super careful while cooking dinner, baking desert or even just using the microwave or toaster. Here are 8 tips on how to stay safe in the kitchen.

  • No multi-tasking
    • This is the biggest culprit of kitchen fires; people leaving the stove unattended to do something else. Also keep your phone away from you while cooking. That can be a large distraction as well. If you really have to step away, turn the stove off.
  • Stay alert
    • Don't start cooking if you are busy, tired or drunk (as silly as it sounds a lot of fires start this way). If you aren't going to give whatever you are making your 100% attention don't start.
  • Wear tight clothing
    • Sleeves and loose fitting clothing can catch fire while you cook/bake. Roll up sleeves or even better, wear tight clothing. Also tie up long hair if you have and take off all jewelry.
  • Remove flammable objects nearby
    • Remove any flammable object that may be on or next to your stove and put it to the side for now. Not sure if it's flammable? Move it anyway. Better safe than sorry.
  • Install smoke alarms/detectors
    • It's best to have your smoke alarm in the kitchen so you get notified at the earliest moment possible. Without them, your house will be in flames and you will have no idea.
  • Fire Extinguisher
    • On top of having smoke alarms, having a fire extinguisher would be very helpful as well. However, make sure you know what you're doing before you operate one.
  • Child Safety
    •  Do you kids know what they are doing in the kitchen? If you want to teach them how to operate the stove, oven, microwave, toaster, etc., make sure you watch them intensively to ensure the process runs smoothly. When you are cooking, turn the pot handles away from the front of the stove so children can't reach them.
  • Get Outside
    • If the fire becomes out of control, go to the nearest exit and stay outside until the fire department comes and it is safe to go back in.  
       I hope you consider these 8 tips next time you decide to cook!





      

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