SAFETY TIPS FOR USING YOUR STOVE/COOKTOP

1/30/2019 (Permalink)

Almost every residence has a stove or cooktop which is used on a daily basis to prepare meals. These are important appliances in anyone’s household, but life can be dangerous if you are not practicing safety and caution while using them. Cooking-related fires are the primary cause of residential fires in the U.S., but most kitchen fires are preventable, if you follow these safety tips:

• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Do a safety check before each use.
• Make sure that there are no food particles or grease residue on the stove top.
• If you have a gas stove or cooktop and you smell gas, open a window, leave the building and call the gas company.
• Be sure to follow safety guidelines when using stove top burners.
• Never use a pot that is too small or big for the burner.
• Never leave a burner on that does not have a filled pot or pan on it.
• Do not leave an empty pan on a hot burners.
• Keep all flammable items (e.g. oven mitts, towels and paper) away from the burners.
• Check for body safety:
• Tie back long hair.
• Roll up long sleeves.
• Remove loose jewelry.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, baking soda and metal lids nearby to put out fires quickly.