Keep Your Cool in the Kitchen

“Next on News 7, why your kitchen may just be the most dangerous room in your house.”

In this recent Dish Network commercial, the fear-mongering media chases a Boston family around their property (first “the most dangerous place” is the kitchen, then the treehouse, then under the bed). It’s a very funny ad, but there are facts to back up why the kitchen is literally a hotbed for danger. In fact, more fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

• U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.

• Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen.

• Unattended cooking was a factor in 34 percent of reported home cooking fires.

• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials.

• Ranges accounted for the 58 percent of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16 percent.

• Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.

• Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half (44 percent) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scald burns.

• Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1 percent of home cooking fires, but these incidents accounted for 16 percent of the cooking fire deaths.

In honor of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12) and the theme Prevent Kitchen Fires, here are some kitchen safety tips from your friends at the HVFCo.

STAND BY YOUR PAN. Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires and injuries.

TUCK IT IN. Loose clothing and dangling sleeves can catch fire during cooking. Also, move things that can burn away from the stove – items such as dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains.

BETTER SAFE THAN SCALDED. Microwaves heat food fast but can lead to burning if not properly handled.

KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT YOU FRY: Fires can start when the heat is too high. When frying food, if you see smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.

COVER AND SMOTHER: Remember, NEVER throw water on a grease fire in a pan. Water can actually displace the grease and spread the fire. Turn the burner off to eliminate the heat source and smother the fire to remove oxygen. Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby to cover the pan if it catches on fire (metal lids are preferred to glass). Also, never pick up a pan with flaming contents. It’s easy to bump and spill the flaming grease, which can make the situation quickly go from bad to worse.

SET UP A STOVE SAFETY ZONE: Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove while active. If cooking with children, keep a close eye on them near any heat source at all times.

ABOUT FACE! Turn pot handles to the back of the stove so no one bumps them or accidentally pulls them over.

For more information on Fire Prevention Week:

http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week

Kids can visit Sparky the Fire Dog’s page:

http://www.sparky.org/parentpage/fpwkids.htm