Date: 8th July, 2020
The more time children spend at home, the more time they will be spending in the kitchen. It could be from lending a hand to searching for snacks. It is important to make sure that children know the hazards of a hot hob.
As part of the Fire Kills campaign, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking parents and carers to make any kitchen activities a chance for kids to learn about keeping safe in the kitchen.
Prevention Delivery Manager Ian Hopkins said: “From bake-offs to barbecues, there are lots of creative ways to teach kids about cooking fire safety this summer. And it’s vital that they know what to do if the worst should happen.
“So, alongside the melting, mixing and making, why not take the chance to pass on your fire safety knowhow? Test your smoke alarms as part of the activity. And remember, never leave a child alone with a hot hob, and help keep them safe by moving matches and saucepan handles out of their reach.
Half of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen – often because of distractions like phone calls or family. So, whatever happens elsewhere in the house, always make sure you have one eye on the hob or oven”.
Kids don’t have to be in the kitchen to change the way you work – a distraction whilst cooking is a main cause of fire call-outs right across the country.
The Fire Kills campaign’s top tips for staying safe in the kitchen includes:
- Take care if you need to leave the kitchen while cooking. Take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.
- If a pan catches fire, don’t take any risks – Get Out, Stay Out, and Call 999.
- Double check the hob is off when you’ve finished cooking.
- Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking. Keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach to keep them safe.
- Take care with electrics leads and appliances away from water and place grills and away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
- Don’t cook when under the influence of alcohol.