As a mom my main goal is keeping my children safe. There are a lot of things that we do inside our homes like using cabinet locks and storing chemicals and medication out of reach. According to the NFPA cooking is the leading cause of household fires. Most families cook many times during the week and cooking becomes second nature. Safety rules are forgotten in our rush to finish a meal and get our children off to their activities. Did you know that you only have 2 minutes to evacuate your house once the fire alarm sounds?
Here's a reminder of some easy safety precautions you may have forgotten:
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1. Stovetop and Oven cooking:
- Always remember to turn off the burner if you have to walk away from your pan while cooking.
- Use the back burners when cooking. This prevents you, children, or animals from knocking the hot pan onto the floor.
- Keep a lid near your pan when cooking on the stove so you can quickly cover a small fire should it start.
- Be sure to clean out the oven after use. Food that has fallen into the oven during cooking can catch on fire.
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2. Microwave
- Always plug your microwave directly into a wall outlet, ever use an extension cord.
- Always open your microwave slowly. Steam could burn your face.
- Be sure that you stir microwaved food well. Microwaving causes pockets of food that are hotter than in other areas and burn you. Always check food well before feeding children or babies.
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3. Slow Cookers, Pressure Cookers, Airfryers and other electric appliances
- Always plug appliances directly into a wall outlet, never an extension cord.
- When using multiple appliances, plug them into different outlets to prevent overloading breakers.
- Always leave adequate space around appliances while in use.
- Remove any towels, paper, or anything else that could catch on fire from the area around your appliances.
- Always be sure to clean appliances after use.
- Never leave the house while your appliances are running.
- Allow appliances to cool completely before storing.
- Unplug appliances when they are not in use.
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4. Grill:
- Only use grills outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
- When grilling, always make sure that your grill is away from flammable materials, including siding, deck railing, tree branches, or bushes.
- Never leave your grill unattended.
- Check propane tanks for leaks before use.
- When lighting a gas grill, be sure that the lid is open.
- Keep fire starters out of the reach of children.
- Allow the grill to cool completely before cleaning and storing.
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In addition to these tips, you should always keep a countertop fire extinguisher out and available to use quickly. Do not put it away out of sight - every second counts! You should be sure to check the batteries in your kitchen fire alarm. Never remove the alarm, even if it seems to "go off for no reason" while you're cooking. Always review cooking safety with younger kids who are in the kitchen and help them to create good habits now.
You should also have an evacuation plan for the entire family in the event there is a fire in your house and practice it annually. Here is a great kid-friendly video to get your family's plan started.
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