Published
Feb
25,
2019
The kitchen is one of the most common rooms in an apartment for accidents.
Be cautious while cooking and use Ayre & Oxford's kitchen safety tips.
Safety Precautions
Cooks of all skill levels can have accidents, fires, and even injuries. These safety precautions can help avoid disaster.
- Keep all sharp tools and knives out of reach for children. A magnetic knife strip lets you hang your sharp knives up on the wall away from little hands.
- Before you cook, check your stovetop and clean away any food debris or oils in and around the burners.
- Keep a large lid nearby in case your cooking starts a fire. Suffocate the fire with the lid by placing it over the pot.
- To avoid knocking pots over, turn the handles inwards or to the side.
- All electrical outlets should be grounded. Do not use any kitchen appliances with frayed or damaged cords.
- Don't overload an outlet. Unplug any appliances that are not in use.
- Don't use extension cords. Instead, purchase an outlet tap with surge protection to add more receptacles.
- All kitchens, no matter their size, should have a class B fire extinguisher easily accessible.
Food for Thought
Remember: clean, separate, cook, and chill are the essential rules for safe food handling.
- Keep your fridge at 40 degrees and do not allow foods to remain at room temperature for longer than 2 hours or 1 hour if it's a hot day.
- Always wash your hands before and after preparing foods. Clean your work surface with an antibacterial cleaner after working with raw foods.
- Keep this storage guide on hand so you know how long you can safely keep different foods.
First Aid Treatments
It's important to act fast in case of an injury.
- If you get a burn while cooking, run cold water over the area for several minutes. This will stop the burn from growing and relieve the pain.
- Clean a cut with mild soap and water. Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stops, use an antibacterial ointment and cover with a bandage.
- If any cuts are still bleeding longer than 20 minutes with direct pressure, or burns are excessive, go to your nearest emergency room.