‘TIS THE SEASON: COOKING SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Kitchen safety tips to help keep the holidays merry and bright

Kitchen fire incidents spike during the holidays, so before the roasting, baking and simmering begins, help ensure the heart of your home is safe. Here are top safety tips every home chef should know to help avoid a holiday cooking incident.

Clean your appliances. Food splashes and spatters all the time, but don’t leave the mess. Keep your appliances clean of grease and food debris that could potentially catch flame. Clean your oven before the holiday season and at least every three to six months.

Never leave cooking unattended. According to the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners, cooking is the leading cause of home fires—so don’t let the holiday fun distract you from kitchen duties. Keep an eye on open flames and hot equipment. If you must leave the kitchen, turn the burner off. Always use a timer to help remind yourself about food in the oven.

Establish a kid zone. Have a “kid-free zone” of at least one meter around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared. Designate a space away from cooking appliances where kids can play and still be supervised. And always keep knives, cooking equipment and appliance cords away from edges of counters and stovetops for when young children do enter the kitchen.

Help prevent burns. Cook on back burners when possible and keep all pots and pans turned inward, away from the stove edge, to avoid bumping them. Always stir and lift lids away from you to avoid hot food or steam burning your skin. Be sure to keep potholders and oven mitts nearby and place hot items in the center of counters on non-slip placemats.

Keep a fire extinguishing device nearby. In case of fire, always have an extinguishing device nearby and know how to use it. Research shows that more than 70% of fire extinguisher owners say that they would not feel very comfortable actually operating one. Offering an easy-to-use solution, the First Alert EZ Fire Spray features a lightweight spray-can design with no pins or levers—just point and spray.

Install and check smoke alarms. Be alerted to a fire emergency by installing smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement, and inside every bedroom. Test alarms regularly and change the batteries every six months. For convenient protection, First Alert offers a variety of 10-year battery alarms that offer a decade of protection while eliminating battery replacements and late-night battery chirps. Even if you have 10-year alarms, it’s still important to regularly test them.

With these safety precautions, you and your loved ones can relax and enjoy a happy—and safe —holiday season at home.

To learn more about home safety products and tips, visit firstalert.ca.

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