Children and cooking could be a recipe for disaster if you do not take extra care in the kitchen this Easter, warn Cleveland Fire Brigade.
It comes with the first big bank holiday of the year and more families getting together to make cakes and other treats in the most dangerous room in the home.
Robin Turnbull, Area Manager, Protection, Prevention and Engagement said: “Easter can be a fun time for all the family with all that melting and mixing, but with more people around there can be lots of distractions and the bigger chance of disaster.
With everyone together it is a good chance to share kitchen safety tips with children to make cooking safe and enjoyable for the full family.
Over half of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen – often because of distractions like phone calls or family. So, whatever happens elsewhere in your home, always make sure you have one eye on the hob or oven.
Never leave a child alone with a hot surface and help keep them safe by moving matches and saucepan handles out of their reach.”
There were 216 accidental fires in the home across Cleveland in 2022 with distractions in the kitchen being the main source of ignition.
Recipe for a safe kitchen:
- Never leave cooking unattended
- Avoid leaving children alone in the kitchen
- Double check the hob and oven is off when you’ve finished cooking
- Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
- If a pan catches fire, don’t take any risks – Get Out, Stay Out, and Call 999
- Cooking and drinking alcohol don’t mix
- Keep your equipment clean and in good working order. A build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire
- Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home – and test them regularly
- In the event of a fire, have an escape plan in place
