Stay Safe in the Kitchen
In a new campaign by leading charity, Electrical Safety First, the public is being warned to #WatchWhatYouHeat. As 50% of accidental dwelling fires in England are caused by cooking appliances, it goes to show how important staying alert in the kitchen is.
It is easy to do nowadays, we can get distracted by phones, TV, other people, the door and so much more! Stay safe in the kitchen with these tips:
- Stay alert at all times! Be sensible when in the kitchen and be aware of what is going on around you.
- Always switch the hob or oven off immediately after you have finished using it.
- Never leave anything flammable around the oven or hob, such as tea towels, dish cloths, or oven mitts etc.
- Keep things clean! Microwaves and ovens that are not clean can lead to fires.
- If you have a cooking fire and don’t have the appropriate extinguisher, leave the room, shut the door and call 999. Never throw water on an electrical fire. Similarly, never throw water over hot oil as it can create a fireball – that also goes for chip pan fires!
- If you need to leave the kitchen when the oven or hob is on, make sure you stay alert and be mindful of cooking times. Unattended cooking is a major cause of cooking fires in the UK.
- Make sure your microwave is clean and that the vents aren’t blocked – so be sure never to store anything on top of the microwave! If these vents are covered by objects, dirt or dust, the microwave can overheat and catch fire.
- Never cook if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking any medication that could make you drowsy – it will always be a recipe for disaster and leave yourself and your home at risk.
Electrical Safety First have created three short videos to highlight the risks of being distracted whilst cooking. Check them out here, here and here. Read more about staying safe in the kitchen and remember, #WatchWhatYouHeat.
Post Source: Electrical Safety First
