The kitchen area is one of the most important places in every home. Here is where we store and prepare the food we eat everyday, and where family members or people living under the same roof gather to share moments together. At the same time, the kitchen can be the riskiest section of a home. The gas burners, the high temperatures of foods and liquids cooking, and electrical devices among many others, can cause incidents with serious or even fatal injuries.
What Causes Kitchen Fires & Burns?
According to the New York Fire Department(NYFD), preparation of food is the main cause of fires and burn injuries at home. There are several situations that lead to inattentive cooking in the kitchen. The most common are attending children, answering the phone, watching TV, or opening the front door.
Tips From the NYFD
Today we want to share with you several safety tips that the New York Fire Department has created to help New Yorkers avoid these types of accidents so common in our homes. Pay attention:
- Stay in the kitchen, don’t leave cooking food unattended
- Wear short or tight fitting sleeves (Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire or get caught on pot handles).
- Don’t become distracted with devices
- Do not let children come close to the stove. Always turn pot handles inward facing the wall to prevent burns caused by overturning or spills.
- Keep the area around the stove clear of towels, papers, or anything that could burn.
- Clean your cooking equipment regularly so that there is no grease accumulation or other materials.
- In case of a fire do not use water. It will cause splashing and spread the fire
- If you can’t control the fire, call 911 immediately