CEN FAQs: Ready to Fight Kitchen Fires?

Each year 190,000 Kitchen Fires  flare up causing massive property damage, personal injury and at times death. Each homeowner should take some basic steps to be ready to mitigate a kitchen fire.

First, a simple fire extinguisher within easy reach, under your sink, or in an easy to reach pantry or other location where you’re able to grab the extinguisher, point and extinguisher fire rapidly is key. In advance, advise children of the locations of the extinguisher and provide instruction so they’re able to grab and use. If for any reason you’re not able to extinguish the fire in seconds immediately clear your house and call 911. 

An alternative product for fighting a kitchen fire is a Fire blanket, a simple blanket which you remove from the container, place over the fire quickly without the mess of an extinguisher may prevent injury or loss.  Again, like a fire extinguisher, if you’re unable to eliminate the fire within seconds, call the fire department.

Additionally, if a pan flares up unexpectedly, and the fire is contained in that pan, put a lid over the flames and the fire should quickly extinguish itself. If a small amount of flames have escaped the pan to your countertop or stove, baking soda or salt poured over the small flame should extinguish the flame quickly. Just make sure you have extra baking soda or salt available and are able to grab it swiftly.

Most of us have experienced a kitchen burn which can be very painful, some are a short-term inconvenience while others can become quite severe.  When you are burned, run your burned area under cold water for at least 10 minutes to ease the pain and the damage. The prepared kitchen needs to include supplies for treating a burn including sterile gauze and extra bandages. Make sure you keep an antibiotic cream available to quickly treat the affected area.

Your bandages should be able to treat the occasional slicing of a hand which is quite common. Make sure you have plenty of bandages available, so you don’t have to go running back to your bathroom cupboard or search for the right size. Again, make sure you treat the wound with an effective antibiotic cream.

Finally, place a few ice packs in your freezer so in the event of a slip and fall or if you have an injury you want to treat with cold, you’re able to access the packs quickly. Ice cubes may be effective, but be careful don’t drip water in the kitchen causing somebody else to slip and hit the floor magnifying an already challenging situation.

Embrace the step of preparing your kitchen for a fire or other injury and you will have taken another step in your journey of becoming a ReadyChristian.