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The kitchen is often one of the busiest and
most dangerous places in the home.
Young children are at the greatest risk for
injury. 65% of all residential fire calls
are related to the kitchen. More injuries
occur in the kitchen than any other room in your
home. Here are some simple safety tips to
help keep your kitchen safe:
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Turn handles
inward when using pots and pans on the
stove. |
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Place hot dishes
on center of table or counter, not close to
the edge. |
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Clear toys and
other objects away to prevent fall injuries |
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Do no store
snack foods above the stove. This may
encourage climbing. |
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Do no allow
electrical cords to dangle over the edge of
counter or table. |
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Keep items that
catch fire easily away from stove, toasters
and hot plates. |
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Use only
appliances which have a laboratory testing
label, i.e.; UL or FM. |
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Do not over load
electrical outlets |
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Unplug
electrical appliances when not in use. |
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Keep stoves
clean and free of grease and oil. |
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When cooking,
wear tight fitting clothing or shirts with
short sleeves. |
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Do not leave
food unattended on the stove. |
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Clean vent
filters regularly. |
Microwaves
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Follow cooking
directions on food packages. |
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When food is
cooked, stir and let sit for a few
minutes. This can prevent burns
to the lips and mouth. |
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Popcorn can burn
easily in a microwave. Follow package
directions carefully. |
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Do not cook food
in metal containers. It may cause a
fire. |
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If a fire
starts, close the door and unplug the cord. |
Barbecue Grills
Every year people using barbecue grills start
hundreds of fires. Damage can be extensive.
Careless use of barbecues cost you millions of
dollar and often, tragically, destroys more than
property.
The Uniform Fire Code, adopted by the City of
Tempe, prohibits grilling on patios and balconies
in multi-family complexes. For safety sake,
barbecue in designated areas only.
In single family residences, move the barbecue
grill out from under patio covers. If
using charcoal grills do not use gasoline as a
starter fuel, use charcoal light fuel only.
Do not add more fuel after the coals have already
been lit.
Most importantly keep children away from the
grill to avoid them knocking it over or burning
themselves.
In Case of A Fire
Many fires that start in the kitchen are caused
by overheated grease or oil.
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Grease fires are
put out by smothering the fire; that means
not letting air get to the fire. |
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Cover the pan or
fryer with a tight fitting lid. Slide
the lid over the fire from the side.
Turn the appliance off. |
Burns, Scalds
The most common injury in the kitchen are burns
and scalds. To treat a burn:
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Cool a
burn/scald with cool running water.
Get medical attention immediately if burn
area is charred, red and blistered. |
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Do not put
butter, ointments or other types of creams
or liquids on the burn. These can
cause infections. |
More Kitchen Info
Over 80% of fire deaths occur in
the home, most often claiming the lives of the
young and the elderly. Cooking, heating, and
smoking are the leading causes of residential
fires, with two-thirds of these breaking out in
the winter months, when people in cold climates
spend more time indoors and place demands on
kitchen, electric and heating utilities.
Unattended cooking, fireplaces and portable
heaters are a few of the more obvious contributing
factors to wintertime home fires. While other
human errors, such as falling asleep, inadequate
control of an open flame, failing to turn off
cooking and electrical equipment, and placing
combustibles (e.g., aerosol cans) and flammable
objects too close to heat sources are also sources
of tragedies.
Cook Smart
Range fires continue to dominate the home cooking
fire problem. While you may or may not be a good
cook, you can always cook smart. Follow these
ingredients for kitchen safety:
- Supervise children and the elderly at all
times and monitor your own cooking just as
closely.
- Keep the handles of your pots turned inward
so they don't hang over the stove.
- Avoid wearing loose sleeves while cooking;
they can be ignited easily by a burner or a
grease splatter
- Clear your cooking area of combustibles,
curtains and other flammable materials.
- Never pour water on a grease fire. Water can
cause the hot grease to splatter, burning you
or spreading the fire. Instead, carefully
slide a lid over the pan and smother the
flames, then turn off the burner.
- Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen,
approximately 10 feet away from the stove, and
know how to properly use it.
- Use cooking equipment for cooking only, not
to heat the home.
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