Simple Kitchen Safeguarding Tips to Prevent Fires
The kitchen has always been a magical place. This is where hearty meals and fun gatherings start to flourish. As this room is very simple and always functional, it should always be preserved at its finest condition. And more importantly, you should take charge of keeping it away from being a hazardous place for each and every member of the family. And probably the most prone untoward incident in this area is the fire.
Each year, millions of houses burn down due to kitchen fires. It is because most activities done here involve electricity, fire and heated temperatures. The oven, stoves and other electrical appliances are sometimes used simultaneously during single food preparation period. But if you prepare well and practice safety at all times, you increase your chances of being saved from falling into ashes.
First tip would be to regularly check the condition of all electrical wires, cords and plugs of all kitchen appliances. Make sure that these are not frayed. And to keep this from happening, if you tuck them away in cabinets after use, guarantee that the storage place is safe from rodent infestation. These pests chew on the cords which would then expose the wirings. As a precaution, always check for each time you use the appliance.
As soon as you finish cooking or heating food, turn off the burners or the appliance switch. Always pull the plug. And if you use several appliances like blenders, food processors and stand mixers at once, do not plug them into the same sockets. The fuse could blow resulting to an electrical fire. But if it is urgent that you need to use them all at once, do not use extension cords. These may offer easy solutions but junction boxes with included ground fault interrupters (GFIs) are better to use. The GFIs protect you from sudden electrocution. In case the circuits of the appliances surge or ‘short’, the GFI would shut down the power.
Ensure that combustible materials like paper towels, dishcloth, oven mitts, potholders, curtains and others are not directly above hot areas. These should not also block the heater vents. You should also not wear clothes with long sleeves as these could easily catch fire.
If you have children at home, keep an eye on them if they want to be in the kitchen. Warn them about the hazards involving a fire that could possibly happen in this area if they are not careful. Teach them stay away from hot surfaces which could burn their skin. You should also not place cookie jars or any treats near the stove or oven. Keep the stove and oven knobs secured with childproof locks. And make sure that the matches, lighters and any flammable substances are kept in containers. Place these in high areas they could not reach.
As accidents could never be avoided, it would be wise to invest in fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment. Keep the extinguisher in a cabinet that could be easily opened and is accessible to anyone in the house. It would be best to orient your kids on how to use them. It is also advisable that you have both class A and B extinguisher. The first type is mainly for paper, wood or any everyday flammable material. The second one is for fires caused by grease. You should also guarantee that your smoke detectors are functioning well. You should also keep a first aid kit and emergency bag always ready. Place it near the exit points where you could grab it on your way out.
And lastly, familiarize ways on how to control the fire. Stay alert and swiftly assess the situation. If it is large and spreading, immediately call for help. Get everyone out of the house to avoid casualties. When it is otherwise, you have many options. If it is a grease fire in a pan, cover the lid right away. Exposure to air, that is oxygen, would keep it ablaze. You could also smother it with salt or baking powder or similar ingredient if you could not access the lid. Other small fires that are non-grease could be put off when doused with water. In case the oven is on fire, close the door and turn it off. Suffocation is best to rapidly subdue the flames.
Go over these simple measures with your whole family. These would help you to prevent fires from happening. And in case the incident still happens, you would know what to do.
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