This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!™,” works to educate everyone about the simple but important actions that they can take to keep themselves, and those around them, safe in the kitchen.

Did you know that cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries? Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries. Hot liquids from coffee and even microwaved soup can cause devastating injuries.

Recipe for Safety
Before you serve a meal, it’s essential to serve up fire safety in the kitchen. There’s nothing like spending time in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal for family and friends or an appetizing treat for yourself. But do you know the important steps to take long before anyone takes the first bite? Here are just a few fire safety tips for the kitchen:

- Stay Focused on the Food
Stay in the kitchen when you’re frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the burner if you leave the kitchen — even for a short period of time

- Put a Lid on It
Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never discharge a portable fire extinguisher into a grease fire because it will spread the fire

- Keep Cooking Areas Clear
Clear away clutter and give cooking appliances space to lessen the chance of a kitchen fire

- Keep Kids Safe
Have a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around hot things in the kitchen

- Prevent Scalds and Burns
Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge and keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges

For more information on Fire Prevention Week and fire safety in the kitchen, visit: https://bit.ly/2XtNrzK

Since 1922, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage.

Credit to: NFPA