Electrical Cord Safety

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates some 3,300 residential fires each year are caused by extension cords. While there are many things you can do to ensure holiday fire safety, focusing on how you utilize extension cords can be one major facet in your holiday fire safety master plan.

1. Damaged extension cords are a big issue when it comes to holiday fire safety. Extension cords that are frayed, worn or improperly repaired with electrical tape pose a great fire risk. Always replace damaged extension cords with new ones.
2. Never run extension cords underneath carpeting or other types of cloth items. If the electrical current that runs through the cord should find a way to get outside of the protective plastic coating it's housed in, these items could catch fire.
3. When it comes to holiday fire safety you should never run extension cords across areas where people walk. Not only could the cord be damaged, if someone should unfortunately trip over one that's connected to your Christmas tree, the tree could be pulled over onto a heat source candle, fireplace, etc.
4. Another holiday fire safety issue is plugs not being entirely, and snuggly, inserted into an extension cord. Sometimes the older extension cords don't accept the modern plugs correctly. As such, a gap may exist between the plug and the extension cord. If something that conducts electricity comes in contact with this area, an interruption in the electrical flow from the extension cord into the plug may occur. The electricity could then be channeled out of the extension cord and may catch something on fire in its path.
5. Another approach to holiday fire safety is to use, in conjunction with your extension cords, (or even in place of them) a power strip. You can plug multiple electrical cords into a power strip and reduce, or eliminate entirely, the need for extension cords. This is a great alternative to using multiple extension cords.

Basically these cords can be a hazard if used for extended periods of time. So use them only as a temporary solution.

Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety Tips When Cooking
• Stay by the stove when the burner is on. A stove fire can erupt in seconds, so it is important that you are nearby to put out the flames. The most dangerous and flammable cooking ingredient is oil, so never leave hot oil unwatched. It can burst into flames within seconds.

• Wear tight-fitting clothing while cooking. Oversized or long, draping clothes can easily brush against a hot burner and catch fire.

• Aim pot handles towards the center and away from traffic. This fire safety tip will prevent one’s elbow from knocking against the handle and spilling food, or even worse, hot oil or fat onto yourself or the burner.

• Clean the grease off the stove regularly. One major fire safety no-no is allowing grease to build up, because large amounts of grease can ignite.
• Try to wipe the stove top after every cooking session.
• Heat oil up gradually. This fire safety measure will prevent hot oil from splattering onto your skin or in your eyes. Never pour oil into a hot pan, because it can burst into flames within seconds. It is safer to pour oil into the pan before you turn on the burner. 
• Place a rubber or non-slip mat on the floor. If your floor frequently gets wet from spilt liquids or oil.

Extinguishing Stove Fires
• If grease or oil in the pan ignites, turn off the stove & smother the fire with a lid or a damp towel. Never use water, which causes grease fires to spread.

• Do not remove the lid or put it under water until it cools!

Extinguishing Oven / Microwave Fires
• Leave the oven or microwave door shut and turn off the heat. If the flames don’t go out right away, leave immediately and telephone the fire department from a neighbor's house. Be sure to have your microwave or oven checked by a maintenance person before you use it again.

Smoke Detector Fire Safety Tips
• Install a smoke detector. This affordable important device doubles your chance of surviving a fire.

• Never remove the batteries from your smoke detector.
• If you must remove them because a large amount of smoke during cooking caused the detector to go off, open the windows and turn on a fan to clear the air, and reinsert the batteries as soon as possible.

Last thoughts on Fire Safety in the Kitchen
• Store flammable items far away from the stove. This includes: pot holders, dish rags, towels, curtains, and food packaging.

• Never use the oven or stove range to heat your home. This is not only a fire hazard, but if you have a gas oven / stove, you are letting gas into the air.