Kitchen Safety
The kitchen is one of the most dangerous places in the house. The kitchen has many dangerous appliances that can lead to many accidents if precautions are not taken.

With the increasing use of modern appliances in the kitchen, it is important to educate yourself and your family on the proper use of the cooking equipment, and to know how to extinguish a grease / oil fires. These hazards can cause burns and unintentional fires. In fact, kitchen fires form the majority of residential fires.

Safety for Children
Children tend to be active, curious and playful, and are innocent to the many possible dangers in the kitchen. You need to be extra vigilant and provide continuous and adequate supervision of children.

Keep in mind the following guidelines whenever children are in the kitchen :

1. Keep all hot items at a safe distance from a child.
2. Using highchairs, child safety gates and playpens, create a safety zone where a child can play and see the adults. In addition, this zone will keep them away from the heavy traffic that occurs during food preparation time.
3. Watch out for children before carrying any hot or heavy item, to avoid tripping.
4. Remove tablecloths and place mats when toddlers are present. Be careful also of tablecloths or wires that dangle off the tabletop which can form a grip for your child.
5. Do not make pots and pans toys for children to play with. Children may subsequently reach for them when they contain hot liquid or food.
6. Keep small children out of the kitchen when the oven is in use. Oven doors are very dangerous for small children as they are usually at ground level. The door can get very hot and burn a child who falls or leans against it. Children who are just beginning to find their feet will use door handles for support. Oven door handles can become potentially dangerous.

Grease/Oil Fires
Grease or oil catches fire easily when exposed to open flame. Consider investing in an electric or induction cooking appliance. If you prefer to cook with gas, do be alert to the dangers of fire.

In case of fire, starve the grease fire of oxygen. Cover the pan with a lid or a larger pan, or use a fire blanket or extinguisher. Do not use water to put out a grease fire. If the fire occurs in the oven, turn the controls off and close the door tightly. This will also smother the flames. Do not hesitate to call the fire department if you are unsure about the fire being extinguished completely.

Ovens and Stoves

Keep pot handles turned inwards and away from the edge of the stove. This reduces the chances of tipping the hot contents over.

Do not wear clothing with long, loose sleeves that can hang over the stove as they can catch fire.

Do ensure that the oven and stovetop are clean, as residual grease and food are flammable and can easily catch fire. A clean oven and stovetop are also hygienic.

Do not keep flammable material near the stove. An electric burner coil can reach a temperature of more than 500 degrees Celsius. This can ignite clothing even after the coil has been turned off. Flammable fabrics, such as towels, dish rags or curtains can be ignited merely by being used or stored near a gas or electric range.

Use a potholder or appropriate utensil to remove lids and coverings from heated containers to prevent steam or contact burns.

Appliances
The modern kitchen has many appliances such as rice cookers, kettles and microwave ovens.

Many appliances contain hot material. Take care when handling them.

Do not allow appliance cords to dangle over the edge of counter tops or tables. You may catch them unintentionally and pull them off the counter. Children may pull at them and injure themselves.

Do not overload electrical outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.

Burns associated with the use or misuse of microwave ovens are increasing. People underestimate the heat generated in the food by the microwave oven, especially if the container feels cool to the touch initially. Many people do not fully appreciate or understand how the microwave oven heats food. The fact that a food container may not be hot may mislead an individual to assume that the food itself is not really hot. Burns to the mouth can occur. Food heated under a plastic wrap, such as glad wrap, can trap steam. When the plastic wrap is taken off, there may be a gust of steam that can scald. The scald burn is the most common type of burn and most involve the hands. People of all ages are affected, but a large number of young children sustain the more serious burns.

Some ways to avoid microwave burns :

1. Puncture plastic pouches and plastic wrap covering before heating. This will reduce the risk of a vapor pressure build up and prevent steam burns.
2. Put a cut in potato skins or other vegetables to reduce the risk of bursting when you cut into it after it is heated.
3. The directions associated with the operation of the microwave oven and the specific directions associated with heating prepared or packaged foods are equally important. Ensure that the young and the elderly understand the safe use of the microwave oven before allowing them to heat foods. Children under the age of seven may not be able to read and follow directions and are at a higher risk than older children.
4. Some manufacturers do not recommend that their products be heated in a microwave oven. Be sure you follow their recommendations. (For example, some baby foods are not to be heated in a microwave. Jelly-filled donuts are a major source of mouth burns.)
5. Use caution when handling and cutting thick pieces of meat after heating, especially meats with considerable fat. Splattering of hot fat and meat juices may occur.
6. Eggs should be removed from the shell before being cooked in the microwave oven. Eggs still in their shells may explode causing injuries.