National Burn Awareness Week
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EmailTips to stay safe in the kitchen.
February 5-11, 2017 is National Burn Awareness Week. Since 73 percent of all burn injuries happen in the home, this is something of which to be aware and try to avoid. Whether it is a whole house fire, or a simple cooking burn, fire safety is important. In 2014, over 3,000 people died from fires. We need to protect ourselves and loved ones from becoming a number in this statistic.
There are many tips to help you avoid burns in your home, and this article will take into account those associated with the kitchen. When cooking:
- Always avoid loose fitting sleeves as they can drop onto hot surfaces and catch fire.
- Don’t leave cooking unattended. It only takes a minute for a fire to start. If you need to leave, shut off the burner.
- If something does catch fire, slide the pan to a cold burner, turning off the hot burner. If you can, cover the burning item with a metal cover to extinguish. Never try to put out a grease fire using water as it will spread the flames.
- Use oven mitts or pot holders when handling hot items.
- When heating foods in the microwave, always open lids away from you to prevent scalding from the steam, and always stir the food before testing. Microwaves often heat unevenly and stirring will prevent hot spots.
- Always turn pot and pan handles away from the front of the stove, especially when cooking around children.
- Keep hot foods away from the edge of the dining table. If you use a tablecloth or placemats, children can easily pull hot foods onto them.
- Remember to stop, drop and roll if your clothing does catch on fire, and teach your children this at an early age.
- Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher within easy reach.
Scalding is a major source of burns, especially with young children. One way to keep children safe is to not carry them while cooking. Keep them in a pack and play or a highchair. Keep the kitchen a “No Kid Zone”. Also, follow the safety tips listed above.
If a burn does occur, cool it under cold running water for 10 to 15 minutes. If it is a severe burn, call 9-1-1 and/or get to the hospital. The earlier you get treatment the better. Although almost 97 percent of people suffering burns will survive, many will live with serious scarring and disability. Let’s be aware and prevent these injuries.
If you would like more information about food safety, contact your local Michigan State University Extension office.
