Let’s talk about kitchen safety – it is necessary and important. The kitchen is the hub of every household, so it is crucial to watch out for your kitchen’s safety. Accidents can occur anywhere, including in kitchens.
There can sometimes be more dangers if you live in a house with children or pets. Therefore, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips to help you and your loved ones avoid any injury while in the kitchen and cook yourself a nice meal safe and sound.
Install A Carbon Monoxide Alarm to Ensure Gas Safety
One of the most important aspects of making your kitchen a safe place for everyone in your household is to install a carbon monoxide alarm. A carbon monoxide alarm can be a life-saving device as it detects a carbon monoxide leak caused by any faulty gas appliance in your kitchen.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can be poisonous and even fatal for humans if they breathe in the gas fumes. Some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Vomiting
However, instead of putting your focus on detecting the gas, we recommend taking strict measures to prevent it. Gas safety can be ensured by getting all gas appliances in your home inspected for any faults that may cause carbon monoxide to leak and, thus, be fatal to you and your loved ones.
Note that if you’re a resident of the UK, you’re required by law to get all gas appliances in your home inspected by a registered gas safety engineer and obtain a gas safety certificate cp12 from the engineer. This will not keep your kitchen safe but also keep you on the right side of the law!
Wipe Up Any Spills Immediately
It is crucial to wipe away any spills, whether you spill morning apple juice or drop a bowl of food, and never leave it for later, especially if you live in a home with children or pets.
These tiny creatures can be nosy and are likely to play and run around in the kitchen, leading to a bad fall and causing serious injuries. Remember, prevention is the best cure! So, make sure always to clean up before you leave your kitchen.
Keep The Knives Out Of Your Children’s Reach
You can never be too careful with children around. No matter how well you try to hide or keep the knives out of their sight, there is always a danger of the children finding them. And in case you’re busy or unavailable, the children can fall victim to a nasty accident.
So, always ensure the knives are secured in such a place that children cannot find them easily. This can also be done by using magnetic bars or holders.
Install A Fire Extinguisher
As we mentioned above, accidents happen. And they can happen to anyone, anywhere. It will never put you at a disadvantage to take all your precautions to prevent yourself from harm’s way.
Therefore, we highly recommend installing a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. So, in case of a fire, you can immediately activate and call the fire alarm. A fire extinguisher ensures you douse any flames before they get out of your control.
It is essential to have a fire extinguisher in rooms with gas appliances and flammables, e.g., the kitchen, library or study, etc. Moreover, keeping lighters and matches away from flammable items like paper is essential.
Many people like to light candles while reading, but don’t! Once my father was reading a copy of Poems for stepdaughters by candlelight, and the corner accidentally caught fire. The whole house would have burned down if he hadn’t dowsed the book in the water.
Therefore, practice fire safety and avoid lighting candles and other lighters near flammable items.
Follow The Manufacturer’s Instructions When Using Kitchen Appliances
Not everyone is an expert in the kitchen, and that is alright. Cooking can be a bothersome or difficult process for some. It is crucial not to do it in a hurry, misunderstand the recipe, or even use the wrong-sized appliances such as a pot.
That is why it is important to ensure you read the instructions carefully, especially if you’re using an appliance for the first time. Sometimes we can be busy and rush the process of fixing ourselves a meal and ignore reading important instructions.
However, it is important to be careful and save yourself from unnecessary accidents if you’re inattentive.
Don’t Use An Oven Or Stove To Warm Up Your Kitchen
Never use an oven or stove to heat your kitchen. This can prove to be highly dangerous. It is better to recommended to buy an electric fireplace instead. Not only are they cheaper, but they also do not take up much space in your kitchen.
Always Wear Lose Clothing When Cooking
Cooking can be a therapeutic experience, but if we’re not careful enough, it is possible to put ourselves in harm’s way. For example, by wearing loose clothing such as a loose t-shirt or a dress, the clothing can come in contact with the flames resulting in a fire. So, always keep your robe and fire extinguisher handy!
Ensure Your Hair Is Pulled Back
Cooking or baking in a sanitary or hygienic environment is also an important factor in kitchen safety which is why the importance of an apron cannot be underestimated. Therefore, always ensure your hair is pulled back neatly, and wear an apron!
Keep The First-Aid Kit In The Kitchen At All Times
Make sure you have a separate first-aid kit for your kitchen. You never know when you’ll end up thanking yourself for it. For instance, kids often run around the kitchen while playing and may end up injuring themselves by scraping their knees off the counter, or God forbid, they may end up slipping by falling off the chair while eating.
Moreover, it is also not rare to get too close to a flame while cooking and injure yourself. An unlimited number of scenarios can occur whenever you’re in the kitchen, which is why you can never be too safe. So, take all your precautions and keep a first-aid kit nearby!
Sanitize Your Kitchen
Sanitize your kitchen to keep bacteria and germs away! This is important for your and your loved one’s health.
Conclusion
Kitchen safety tips are essential to prevent serious accidents such as falls, slips, or fires. We hope our 10-kitchen safety will help you keep you and your family safe!
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