Kitchen Fires Happen in an Instant
A couple of weeks ago, I came home from the store with a trunk full of groceries. Like most every mom, I tried to carry in all of the bags with one load (please tell me you can relate – it will make me feel better)! I struggled to load the bags on my arms, open the front door with my elbow and foot, and rush into the kitchen without dropping anything. I was filled with complete exasperation.
I took a deep breath, and with the force of an Olympic weight lifter, I hoisted both arms up to put the groceries on the counter and stove top. Success! I did it all in one trip!
Click, Click, Click.
Was that the ignition sound of the stove? Within an instant, I had accidentally dropped one of the bags, fumbled to catch it, and inadvertently started my gas burner. The smell of burnt plastic filled the kitchen and soon the smoke alarm was going off.
Thankfully, this particular instant of a house fire ended as quickly as it started. However, many families have tragic ends to kitchen and house fires. According to National Fire Protection Association, having working fire extinguishers and smoke alarms can cut the chances of death in a house fire in half. Unfortunately, most Americans are not familiar life saving fire safety products or preparation.
Home Fire Facts
- Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and injuries
- The winter months are the deadliest season for home fires
- Most fatal home fires happen in homes with no smoke alarm or no working alarm
- Nearly five times as many Americans know the shelf life of a Twinkie than know the recommended operating life of a smoke alarm (source: recent Kidde survey)
No doubt, these facts are SCARY! The question is, will you do something to keep your family safe? Kidde Fire Safety has provided us with this Recipe which include some important tips to use during this holiday season when home fires are at their peak. We will take a close look at the necessary ingredients for a successful fire safety recipe as well as tips on how incorporate safe practices with your family.
Fire Safety Ingredients
There are two types of smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association; ionization and photoelectric.
Ionization alarms are generally more responsive to flaming fires.
Photoelectric smoke alarms are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”).
Carbon Monoxide alarms should be installed on each floor near bedrooms. They should be replaced at least every 10 years and tested monthly. Look for “UL Listed” on the packaging to ensure that the alarm meets industry standards.
One fire extinguisher should be easily accessible in each floor of your home. According to Kidde Fire Safety, having the right type of extinguisher is also important. Whether it is for your kitchen, garage, or living areas, researching the best type of extinguisher for your home needs will give you a better chance of survival in the event of a home fire. Be sure to check your fire extinguishers every month to ensure they are fully pressurized.
Kidde smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms start around $20 on Amazon. You can also find Kidde fire extinguishers on Amazon starting at $29 with free shipping.
Make a Family Evacuation Plan
Sit down with your family to create an escape plan. First, your completed plan should include at least 2 ways to exit every room. All upstairs rooms should have an escape ladder within it.
Determine where your family will meet in the event of a fire. Finally, make sure to discuss your plan and practice your exits at least every month (you can coincide with your extinguisher check). It is also wise to practice fire drills during both daytime and evening hours. Check out this free fire safety plan to make sure you don’t forget anything.
A Mom’s Perspective
I don’t know about you, but my children always want to help out in the kitchen. I love being able to ask my daughters to make the cookies for our weekly Bible study! Cooking together is a great family activity and a great opportunity to discuss how to prevent fires and what to do if a fire breaks out. Make sure to discuss these fire safety recipe directions with your family.
- Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove
- Never put metal in the microwave
- Never leave the kitchen when frying or cooking with grease
- For small grease fires cover the pan with a lid and shut off the burner
- Keep a small fire extinguisher under the sink for quick access
Although many of us can laugh at past kitchen disasters, it is incredibly important to ensure safety. After completing the research for this article, I must sadly admit that our family is not fully prepared. We do not own any escape ladders for our 2nd floor rooms, nor do we practice escape routes. This month, I plan to purchase the ladders and practice with our children. Most parents don’t expect a fire to consume their homes, but our family will be prepared in such an emergency.
* This is a sponsored post by Kidde. All opinions are my own.
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I really liked your tip to come up with an evacuation plan. I think that a lot of people aren’t prepared for a stressful situation such as a fire. However, it is imperative, especially during the holidays, to have a evacuation plan. It could really save your life.
Given all the facts that you shared with us, it seems like the obvious conclusion is to make sure that your fire alarm is always running properly. From what I understand you should be testing it every few months. Personally, I will check it every other week. That might be excessive according to some, but since there is minimal work for a huge benefit, I consider it worthwhile.
Your tips on how to keep your children safe in the kitchen are really helpful. I especially like your suggestion to never leave the kitchen when cooking or frying with grease. Now that I have kids at home I am really concerned about fire safety. It seems having a fire plan and a fire extinguisher would be a good idea.
Sadly, I don’t think I’ve known many families that have a fire extinguisher on each floor. Most people operate with a “well, hopefully that will never happen to me” attitude and hope that the lonely extinguisher in their garage or storage closet will do the trick, but in addition to buying the right extinguishers for the job, it’s important to assess their accessibility. If there’s a fire in the back room, will you be able to get to the broom closet in time? If not, move it or get an additional one. It’s something that you mentioned, but I think that it’s definitely something worth repeating! http://www.ameri-safe.com/fire-extinguishers-tacoma-wa/
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This is some really valuable advice for anyone who wants to keep their families safe from fires in their own home. I had no idea that cooking was the number one cause of house fires, or that winter was the most dangerous time for fires. But I understand completely that fatal fires are much more common in homes without smoke detectors, which are absolutely essential. And making a plan is very important too, because you never know what will happen unless you have practiced and gone over the scenario with your family before. Thanks so much for writing!
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