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Kitchen Safety: Fire & Life Safety Handbook

The best way to prevent kitchen injuries is to use a barrier to keep your child out of the kitchen. However, if your child is in the kitchen with you:
  1. Cupboards and Countertops
    • Boil only enough water in the kettle for each use and pour out the rest
    • Avoid overloading outlets; this can cause electrical fires.
    • Store dishwasher detergent, laundry soap and other cleaning products up high where children can't reach them or use child-locks on cupboards.
    • Make a low cupboard the child's own place to play. Fill it with kitchen utensils that are not dangerous, such as plastic strainers, wooden spoons, or plastic mixing bowls.
  1. At the Table
    • Remove bones from meat and fish.
    • Cut food into small pieces to prevent choking. Hot dogs are especially dangerous unless they're cut in half lengthwise and then into small pieces.
    • Never feed a distressed child. This can often lead to choking.
    • The edges of tablecloths can be pulled by young children. Placemats are safer.
  1. Stove Safety
    • Create a "safe zone" around the stove by marking an area off with masking tape. Teach older children to stay out of this area. Turn pot handles to the back of the stove.
    • Use the back burners on the stove.
    • Always stir and test foods and beverages warmed in the microwave Microwavebefore giving them to children. Microwaves heat unevenly and can leave some areas barely warm, while others are scalding hot. Infants' bottles with plastic liners can explode and should never be heated in the microwave.