The kitchen is the most dangerous area in the home. Every year, cooking causes over 50% of accidental fires. 70 people die and over 5,000 people are injured in kitchen fires nationally each year. Nearly all of these fires involve the cooker.
Most burn and scald accidents happen to children in the kitchen. Never allow children in the kitchen unsupervised. Children increase the risk of fire as they can distract adults while they are cooking.
Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of the reach of children. If you can, lock them in a draw or cupboard or keep them in your pocket.
Top Tips
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Never leave cooking unattended
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Never fill a chip pan more than a third full
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Do not cook when you have been drinking Alcohol or taking drugs
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Do not let fat and grease build up on the cooker, especially in the grill pan where it can easily catch fire.
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Check cookers are turned off when you are not using them
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Never hang tea towels on or over the cooker
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Check that the pan handles are not sticking over the edge of the cooker where they could easily be knocked or reached by children
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Check that wires are not hanging from benches where they could easily be reached and pulled by children
