There are over 40,000 burn-related hospitalizations in the United States annually, not counting the thousands of less serious burns that also cause pain and associated problems. In many cases it may only take proper burn and scald precautions to reduce these numbers and keep you and your family safe in your kitchen. Let’s check out some precautionary measures you can take to help prevent kitchen burns and scalds:

Kitchen Safety Tips

• Make sure a new fire extinguisher is ready to go someplace in the kitchen (be sure to periodically check the expiry date).
• Never leave a pot or pan handle sticking out where someone could bump (or pull) it off the stove.
• Wipe down the stove and surrounding area after every cooking session so built up grease doesn’t instigate a potential future fire.
• Always be sure to check that the oven and all elements are turned off after use – it is such an easy mistake to make but could prove deadly.
• Never use aerosol sprays (like cleaners) around an open flame.
• Never leave a hot stove or oven unattended (especially if you have small children).
• Make sure you check that containers are microwave or oven safe before warming things in them.
• Use extra caution when removing hot liquids from the microwave as the steam or contents could scald you or someone standing close.
• Ensure the kitchen floor is completely clear of debris like children’s toys, as you may trip while holding hot liquids or dishes.
• Pour hot liquids and open lids away from your body so you don’t get a face full of scalding steam.

Child Kitchen Safety Tips

• Store anything flammable like lighters in high, out-of-reach cabinets.
• Try to keep the kitchen kid-free during meal preparation times, even if you have a play-pin setup on the far perimeter of the kitchen while you are cooking to prevent accidents while you’re busy.
• Ensure your children know that the kitchen (particularly around the stove) is a “no-play” zone.
• Refrain from using material table cloths when little kids are around, they could pull it down, wasting hot foods that may be resting on the cloth.
• Tuck small appliances with electrical cords (like the kettle) out of the way so the cord cannot be yanked down atop a child.
• Test hot food and liquid out first to make sure it isn’t mistakenly scalding.

That concludes our look at kitchen burn prevention tips, keep an eye out for household burn prevention in the future! If you haven’t already, check out our post Treating Minor Burns (And Recognizing Major Ones) next; thanks for visiting DocChat!