Being safe in the kitchen
- Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stove. If using the oven, stay in the home while your food is cooking and use the timer on the oven to remind you when the food is done
- If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
- Keep items that can catch fire away from the stove. Make sure that oven mitts, tea towels, paper or plastic bags and food packaging are on a counter away from the stove.
- Don’t wear loose fitting clothing or long loose sleeves, as these may catch fire or catch on pan handles.
- Keep pot and pan handles turned in if you have small children. This will help prevent a curious child from pulling a hot pan/pot contents down on top of them. It is advised to have a “kid-free zone” of three feet from the stove.
- When cooking with oil, keep the pan lid close to the stove. If a fire starts in the pan, use the lid to put out the flames by sliding it slowly over the pan. Turn off the power to the stove by using the switch on the wall.
- Never use water on an oil fire and never move a heated pan until it is completely cool.
- If you have a fire in the oven, keep the oven door closed, turn off the heat, leave your home and call the Fire Department. If you have a stove top fire, turn off the heat using the switch on the wall, leave your home and call the Fire Department.
- Do not use cloths or towels to cover a pan. They will catch fire.
- Do not turn on the extractor fan, as this can make the fire worse.
- Open microwaved food slowly and away from your face, as the steam or the food may cause burns. Use oven mitts to remove containers, as these may be very hot. If you use a microwave to warm a baby bottle heat for 10 to 20 seconds, then shake thoroughly and test. Repeat until it is at the right temperature, or—even better—use a bottle warmer.
- Never use metal or foil containers in a microwave.
- Always cook with the extractor fan turned on to prevent smoke from triggering the house fire alarms.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Mobile/Cell – 012 80 80 911
Landline/House Phone – 911
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