Cook up kitchen safety

September 17, 2024 at 10:48 AM EDT

(BPT) - Frying bacon, broiling marinated chicken, straining boiling pasta - what do they have in common? In the past, these activities could cause steam or smoke to set off the smoke alarm unnecessarily, causing stress and disruption when trying to get through family dinner prep in peace. To help limit nuisance alarms and protect what matters most, follow these safety tips.

Ensure your home is properly equipped with updated technology. Having functioning alarms installed throughout your home is the first line of defense for fire prevention. First Alert recently introduced Precision Detection advanced sensing technology smoke alarms, which are designed and tested to provide early warning in the event of a home fire emergency, while also reducing nuisance alarms as the technology better differentiates non-threatening from threatening smoke.
Never leave the stove or oven unattended. Always stay in the kitchen when cooking to keep an eye on the meal. If you must leave the room, assign watching duties to another member of the household.
Keep children away from stove-tops and open flames. Create a boundary of 3 feet around all ovens or stoves being used. Avoid any accidents or fires by letting children know the stove is hot and that it is important to be alert. Also, make sure to keep any lighters and matches locked in a high cabinet to avoid starting a fire.
Be mindful of cluttering cords. Electric mixers, coffee makers, and plate warmers can be an electrical fire hazard due to the amount of electricity running through the outlets. Also ensure cords are not dangling off the counter within arm's reach of children.
Test your smoke alarms. Having working smoke alarms is the first line of defense. Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Fire spreads fast and working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. Test your smoke alarms regularly to ensure they're in functioning condition and replace the batteries at least every 6 months. Smoke alarms don't last forever and need to be replaced at least every 10 years.
Have a fire extinguisher on hand. If a fire does happen, make sure to have a fire extinguisher easily accessible in the kitchen - and know how to use it. Remember the acronym P.A.S.S. when operating. Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger and sweep from side to side.