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IMPORTANT
SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS
Safety Tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Never leave food cooking on the stovetop unattended.
Keep cooking area clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels,
rags, drapes and food packaging).
Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot (one-
meter) ‘kid-free zone’ around the stove/range.
Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing
can dangle onto the stove/range burners and catch fire.
Turn pot handles inward so they can’t be bumped and children can’t grab
them.
Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the
mitt is heated.
FACTS
AND
FIGURES
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In 2011, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,300 home structure fires
that were reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused:
• 470 deaths,
• 5,390 injuries, and
• $1.0 billion in direct property damage.
Cooking caused almost half (44%) of reported home fires, one of every five
(19%) home fire deaths, two of every five (39%) home fire injuries, and 15% of
the direct property damage from home fires in 2011.
Unattended cooking was by far the leading cause of cooking fires.
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From the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
