Fire Safety In The Kitchen
Here are some frightening fire statistics: Approximately two thirds of domestic fires occur in the kitchen, and kitchen fires account for at least 7,000 injuries each year. Most of these fires are completely preventable, as they are caused by carelessness while cooking. The reason for kitchen fires is almost always the same.
Kitchens should be kept clean and well organized with an uncluttered countertop. The cords for electric appliances should be kept away from any kind of heat source, as well as away from water. It isn’t unusual to see plants in the kitchen, and they can make the room look very warm and inviting. However, plants in the kitchen can cause a serious fire hazard. Be sure to keep all plants away from your appliances. It only takes a spark to start a fire, and plants burn easily. It’s also important to keep your dishtowels and clothes away from your stove and electric appliances. Whether they are wet or dry, they can cause a serious fire hazard.
Grease fires are another serious hazard in the kitchen. Keep your stovetop, oven and broiler clean and grease free, and when you are cooking with oils on top of the stove, be careful not to spill it over the side of the pan. If you should have a grease fire DO NOT attempt to put it out with water. The grease will splatter and you could be seriously burned. The easiest and fastest way to extinguish a grease fire is to smother it by covering it. Quickly put a lid on the pan and turn off the burner. If all else fails, and you don’t have a lid or any other way of smothering the grease fire, plain old flour will usually do the trick. Yes it will make a snowy white mess in your kitchen, but flour is a lot easier to clean up than ashes.
Putting metal in the microwave is another way kitchen fires are often started. Keep all silverware, aluminum foil, and metal pots or bowls out of the microwave. Don’t even put them in temporarily. You may forget they are there, or someone else could turn on the microwave causing a fire.
Pretty curtains in the kitchen are charming. They can also be dangerous. Be certain your curtains can’t be blown close to any of your electrical appliances or your stove. More than one kitchen fire has been started because of curtains being too close to a toaster. And while we’re on the subject of toasters, be sure to keep your toaster clean. Even toasted crumbs in the bottom of a toaster can catch fire.
Extension cords should not be used in the kitchen. The rule should be one plug for one outlet. If a cord is damaged it should be replaced immediately. Never leave your appliances running when you leave the kitchen. It only takes a second to switch off the blender or whatever else you are using. It will be there when you get back. Always turn burners off before taking a phone call. It’s just too easy to forget about something cooking on the stove. It’s also a good idea to make a practice of removing the pan from the burner it was cooking on. That way there can be no mistakes, and if you should leave home, you won’t have to worry about the pan on the stove. The kitchen should be a distraction free zone.
Never leave the handles of pots and pans sticking out over the front of the stove so someone could come along and knock the pan full of hot food over themselves. Deep fat frying accounts for about 20% of kitchen burn and fire accidents, causing almost 20 people to be killed or injured every day.
Every kitchen should be equipped with a smoke alarm, and I would suggest the kind with a push button so it can be reset in the event of a false alarm. Without the push button, many people are tempted to remove the battery and will frequently forget to put it back in. If your kitchen smoke alarm is set off repeatedly, it may be installed too close to the stove. Find a new location for it. Every kitchen should also have a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket, which should be kept where they are easily accessible.
