The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house with
plenty of hazards to cause accidents and injuries.
Around 70 percent of all domestic fires attended by Avon Fire &
Rescue Service start in the kitchen and involve fat catching fire,
whether in a chip pan or a dirty grill.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service has launched a campaign to remind
people to take care when in the kitchen.
A moment’s distraction could lead to a serious fire and
endanger life.
Tips on staying safe in the
kitchen:
- Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil
- Never leave the pan or grill unattended when the heat is
switched on
- Never put food in a chip pan if the oil begins to smoke. Turn
off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch
fire
- Try to avoid using a chip pan altogether. Deep fat fryers are a
much safer alternative as they are thermostatically controlled
- Never wear loose clothing near to cooking materials, as it
could catch fire causing severe burns, or it could get caught on
something and pull it over
- Keep tea towels well away from cooking appliances, as they
could catch fire
- Clean hobs regularly to prevent a build up of fat which can
catch fire
- Drinking alcohol and cooking is a mix that can end in
disaster
If a pan does catch fire:
- Do not move it – it could cause burns which last a
lifetime
- Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so but never lean over
the pan to reach the cooker controls
- Never throw water on it, this will only make it worse
- Get out, stay out and call 999. If possible close the kitchen
door on your way out. Then call the fire service, who are the
professionals and have protective clothing and equipment to tackle
the fire safely
Having a working smoke alarms fitted in your house could save your
life, as it will act as an early warning sign if a fire does break
out, allowing you to get out as soon as possible.
It is vital that batteries in smoke alarms are checked regularly
and replaced when needed.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service fits smoke alarms in
properties for free. Firefighters carry out Home Fire
Safety Visits offering fire safety advice and fitting the smoke
detectors free of charge.
To book a Home Fire Safety Visit call 0800 1693 999.
Members of the deaf community can text 077 814 82627. You can also
book a
Home Fire Safety Visit using the online form.
70% of house fires in our community start while people are
cooking
Don’t become another statistic.
Take our cooking safety quiz to find out how safe you
are in the kitchen and how you can make sure that it’s not your
kitchen that goes up in smoke…
Do you use a chip pan?
A. Yes - score 5
B. No - score 0
When you’re filling a pan with oil how much do you put
in?
A. Just a little - score 0
B. About half full - score 5
C. Right to the top - score 5
You’re cooking food, and the phone rings. You:
A. Go to answer it, you’ll only be a minute - score
5
B. Shout for someone else to answer it - score
0
C. Turn off the heat, and go to answer - score
0
When you’re cooking you wear:
A. It never crosses your mind what you’re wearing -
score 5
B. You often cook wearing a dressing gown or nightdress
- score 5
C. You make sure you’re not wearing any loose clothing that may
easily catch light - score 0
You’re cooking, and a pan catches fire. You:
A. Try to move it to the sink - score 5
B. Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so, but not leaning over
the pan - score 0
C. Throw water over it - score 5
D. Close the kitchen door, get out the house, and call the fire
service - score 0
Find out how safe you are
Your results
Score 0 – 4
Well done, you know how to be safe in the kitchen. But
make sure you read through the above information to brush up
on your skills.
Score 5 – 10
Oh dear, you know a bit about cooking safely, but you’re still
at risk. Read the information above to make sure you
know how to be safe in your kitchen.
Score 10 – 25
You’re at a high risk in the kitchen! You need to take our
advice and fast. Find everything you need to know about being
safe in the kitchen above. |