If you have young children and you are like most mums and spend quite a bit of time cooking in the kitchen. It’s important to teach your children some basic rules about kitchen safety.

Here is a simple checklist to help you prevent kitchen fires:

Check food regularly

As a parent, you need to teach your kids about the importance of checking food regularly. While you’re operating your stove, oven, or indoor grill, you should never walk outdoors. Setting a timer is a great way to remind yourself that your cooking appliance is turned on.

Keep flammable items away from cooking surfaces

You can set a good example for your kids by removing all flammable items such as oven mitts, pot holders, dish towels, food containers, and curtains away from the vicinity of your stove, oven, or indoor grill. If your children are small, they might also need warning about the necessity of keeping their hands, feet, clothing and toys a safe distance away from all cooking appliances. You might even want them to remain at least three feet away from a cooking appliance while you’re preparing food on it. Teach your children that pets need to stay away from stoves, ovens, and indoor grills too.

Invest in a fire extinguisher

Does your family own a fire extinguisher? If you don’t currently own one of these life saving devices, buy one today. Once securing your fire extinguisher, contact your local fire department. Ask them if you and your kids can sign up for a training course top learn the correct way to use a fire extinguisher, or refer to the instructions on the box and make sure you are aware how it works. If you don’t know how to utilise one it may not benefit you in an emergency.

Install multiple, smoke alarms

Regardless of whether you recently purchased a new home or have been living in your forever home for several years, you should have multiple, smoke alarms in your home. Be sure to perform a smoke alarm installation in your kitchen. Every month, conduct smoke alarm testing to ensure all of the devices in your home are working properly.

Clean cooking surfaces

Teaching your kids the importance of kitchen cleanliness is crucial. By regularly cleaning all of your cooking surfaces, you can prevent devastating, grease fires from occurring. To teach your kids responsibility, consider enlisting them to help you in the cleaning process.

If you’re the parent of small children, you likely wish to do everything in your power to keep them safe. Sadly, many families suffer body and property damage from preventable, kitchen fires each year. To help keep your little ones safe while preparing mouth-watering meals for them, teach them fire safety tips!

Do you have any other tips to add to the list? Please share in the comments below.

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