The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the home as well as one of the most popular. Members of your family may often gather here to cook dinner together or to prepare snack as an individual. This is why it is important that every family member know basic safety rules in regards to cooking, fire prevention and how to deal with a fire if that occurs.
Using small appliances appropriately is one of the simplest ways to prevent a fire. When plugged into a wall, the appliance should be connected to a GFCI outlet. These are designed to protect a person from an electrical shock caused by a power surge and to shut off if overloaded. Only wall outlets should be used for plugging in appliances, as smaller extension cords are prone to overheating and catching on fire.
When cooking on the stove, any flammable items such as oven mitts and towels should be kept completely away from the hot surface. If these are bumped or dropped onto the stove, they can easily catch on fire. Any family member who is cooking needs to be wearing clothing that fits snugly to the body. Loose fitting clothing can easily come in contact with the hot surface. Practice the method of “stop, drop and roll” with your children so they know what to do if their clothes catch fire.
Install a smoke alarm within the recommended distance to the kitchen by your manufacturer. This will allow your family to have adequate warning in case of a fire, but will prevent you from having constant false alarms. You need to check the batteries on an annual basis and replace them as needed. The smoke alarm should also be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner on the outside to remove any dust buildup. A working fire extinguisher should be within easy reach and every family member should be taught how to properly use it.
If a fire does occur while you are cooking on the stove top, having a lid the right size for the pan and an oven mitt nearby can be handy. You can quickly pull the mitt on and use the lid to douse the flames. It is also helpful to keep a box of baking soda nearby for grease fires. The burner should be left off and the pan allowed to cool before removing the lid. During an oven fire, leaves the door shut and unplug the oven if it is safe to. The heat should be turned off and the emergency authorities contacted.
A list of emergency phone numbers should be kept near your home phone or in a place where everyone knows where it is located. Teach children how to dial 911 and to give their address to the operator in case of a fire. You should also establish a safe place for your family to meet and practice how to get out of the house in case of a fire.
These steps will help to prepare you and your family in case of a kitchen fire and to prevent it from occurring.