Tag Archives: Cooking Fires

Red Cross serves up holiday safety tips to keep you thankful

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By Eilene E. Guy, American Red Cross volunteer

While preparing the Thanksgiving feast, has anyone in your family ever burned something on the stove, setting off the smoke alarm and forcing you to open windows to the chilly November air?

My family has!

Have you every grabbed a potholder to pull a dish out of the oven, only to discover someone left it wet and the steam instantly scalded your hand?

I have!

These kitchen mishaps are not uncommon. But sadly, some holiday accidents turn disastrous: Thanksgiving and the day before are the top two days for home fires in this country.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths. Most cooking fires happen because people leave cooking food unattended. (In my family, it was scorched green beans. I’m thankful the damage was just smoke.)

The American Red Cross urges everyone to keep safety top of mind throughout the hectic holiday season (and beyond):

Stay in the kitchen, especially when you’re frying or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short time, turn off the stove.

The same goes for a grill or turkey fryer outside. Don’t leave them unattended.

Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.

Don’t wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.

Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.

Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven, or any other appliance that generates heat.

Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup.

Consider getting a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.

Always check the kitchen before leaving home or going to bed to be sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

Remember my smoke alarm? Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near (but not in) your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check them once a month. Replace all batteries at least once a year (unless you have newer alarms with 10-year batteries).

If you can’t afford to buy smoke alarms or you’re physically unable to install them, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for more information.

One more thing: Does everyone in your family know what to do if you do, in fact, have a home fire? Visit redcross.org/fire for more safety information, including a fire escape plan to practice with your family.

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 1,994 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Thanksgiving is almost here!!

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If you are like my family members, you can already taste the pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. But with children and pets (and let’s face it – some grown-ups, too) running around and through the kitchen, paying close attention while preparing the feast is vital to having a safe holiday.

“Cooking is the number one cause of home fires,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO. “Last year over 40 individuals – more than a dozen of them children – experienced a home fire over the holiday weekend. Education is key in preventing cooking fires.”

TOP TEN COOKING SAFETY TIPS

1. Don’t wear loose clothing or sleeves that dangle while cooking.

2. If you are frying, grilling or broiling food, never leave it unattended – stay in the kitchen. If you just leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

3. If you’re simmering, baking, roasting or broiling food, check it regularly.

4. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.

5. Keep kids and pets away from the cooking area. Make them stay at least three feet away from the stove.

6. Keep anything that can catch fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

7. Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.

8. Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.

9. Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

10. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year. We can help! Learn more about our free smoke alarm and education program, Operation Save-A-Life, at www.redcross.org/neoosal!

 

Bonus Tip

Download the American Red Cross First Aid App. The app provides users with quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. See all the Red Cross apps at redcross.org/mobileapps.