Cooking fire safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “cooking fires are the 1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries.” That only underscores the importance of using equal amounts of caution and common sense when cooking. Cooking fire safety starts outside the kitchenchange out of any loose clothing and remove any jewelry that could catch on pots or pans and cause injury. While clothing is the first item ignited in less than 1 of cooking fires, it accounts for 15 of cooking fire deaths.Before starting to cook, make sure you’ve removed any possibly flammable materials from the stove area. This includes potholders, paper towels, junk mail, coupons, magazines, New York Times bestsellers, etc. If it can burn, it’s a hazard.Next, check your equipment. Make sure all appliances are plugged in correctly, and NEVER use extension cords for appliances. Besides being capable of overloading the circuit, extension cords are tripping hazards that can lead to injuries or other disasters.While there are some types of equipment that must be carefully monitored, there are others that shouldn’t be used, period. The increasingly popular “turkey fryers” are one example. According to Underwriters Laboratories, the independent product safety certification organization, there are a number of hazards associated with the fryer. They are likely to tip over, spilling hot oil. Oil may also spill out if the fryer is filled too high. If this oil comes in contact with the burner or flames, it can cause a fire. If a partially frozen turkey is inserted in the fryer, spillover may also result in a fire. Most fryer units also lack thermostat controls, so overheating is a constant threat.Despite the threats outlined above, most cooking fires result from distraction or lack of attention. When you begin cooking, make sure it has your undivided attention. It’s no surprise that Thanksgiving is the peak day for cooking fires. Think of all the other things vying for your attention on that dayrelatives, football, young children, etc. To improve your cooking safety, delegate out certain tasks, like checking the score or keeping Fido out of the kitchen, to other responsible parties.If a cooking fire does start, remember to NEVER add water to it. This will splash the oil and cause the fire to spread. Instead, turn off the heat source (if possible) and then use a fire extinguisher, lid, tin foil, or baking soda and salt to douse the flames. However, if doing so would put you in personal danger, then simply leave the house and call the fire department, as hard as it might be.
Comments Off