Red Cross Helps Families Keep the Lid on Cooking Fires

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries in the United   States, and the American Red Cross wants to remind families in the Central and Western Oklahoma Region to be careful in the kitchen and to keep the lid on cooking fires.

“Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in your home, and it’s easy to understand why,” said Janienne Bella, Red Cross Central and Western Oklahoma Region CEO.  “We’re all so busy these days that in the race to put a home cooked meal on the table, we sometimes let safety take a back seat. But the consequences can be devastating, especially when there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of your family’s next meal from going up in flames.”

The Red Cross recommends the following tips to help you reduce the risk of cooking fires:

Ÿ- Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, food packaging, wooden utensils, towels and curtains — away from your stovetop.

Ÿ- Do not leave the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling, or broiling food.

-Ÿ If you’re simmering, baking, boiling or roasting food, check in regularly and remain at home while food is cooking.

Ÿ- Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

Smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should not be closer than 10 feet to a cooking appliance. Test smoke alarms once a month, and replace batteries at least once a year.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. To learn more go online to www.okc.redcross.org .