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Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In fact, one out of three home fires begins in the kitchen — more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires also are the leading cause of fire-related injuries in the home.
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“At U-M, we’ve seen burn injuries from splattered oil, scalds caused by spills from microwaved liquids, and children injured from inadvertently tipping the handle of a pan on a stove, causing it to spill on them,” she says. “Even hot steam from microwave containers can cause a very painful burn injury.”
Preventing the Flames and Burns
Pucci says that following a few simple safety tips could help to eliminate the risk for serious burn injuries while cooking. These tips include:
- Never leave a stove unattended while cooking food.
- If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- When you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay nearby and use a timer to remind you.
- If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove and turn pot handles inward.
- When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
- Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
- Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
- Use caution even when cooking with a microwave, as temperatures rise very quickly and scald burns can occur.
- Use special care when removing food from a microwave that is above eye level and put containers on a stable, flat surface before opening.
For more cooking safety and fire prevention tips, visit www.traumaburn.org .
About the U-M Trauma Burn Center
The U-M Trauma Burn Center is a Level 1 Trauma and Burn Verified Center by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. The Center is a leader in innovative and effective patient care and has a strong commitment to research, education and injury prevention. Each year, an average of 1,500 patients suffering from traumatic injuries and burns are admitted to the Center.
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