Whether you are preparing elaborate meals for the family, whipping up a simple lunch or grabbing a quick bite — it is essential to be mindful of kitchen safety. Potential hazards are everywhere in the kitchen, with the risk of fire from the gas, spills that lead to a slippery floor, food poisoning and many more. From keeping kitchen utensils in place to purchasing personal accident insurance, here are simple ways to safety-proof your kitchen to protect you and your family from kitchen hazards.

Learn how to handle a fire

Generally, more than half of accidental fires are started by cooking — making the kitchen the highest fire risk area at home. Unattended cooking stoves and electrical appliances can lead to fire hazards; that is why you should always keep an eye out for your food when it is cooking. You might walk away from the stove to do something else while waiting for the kettle to boil or your dish to finish cooking, so set a timer to remind yourself when the food is ready! Under circumstances where your pan or wok catches fire, use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire instead of water as it causes the oil to splash and spread the fire! In the case of a huge fire, do not panic and avoid taking risks — turn off the heat if you can, then leave the kitchen and dial for emergency services immediately.

How to Put out and Prevent a Kitchen Fire:

Check on your electrical appliances

With so many electrical appliances for easier meal preparation, the convenience comes at a price — boiling water, hot surfaces, tangled wires and electricity are potent recipes for kitchen hazards; hence it is important to take safety precautions when using electrical appliances. Firstly, ensure the wires, cords and plugs of your appliances are not frayed or malfunctioning. Worn-out appliances and faulty electrical outlets draw a lot of power, which quickly heat up and catch fire. Keep your kitchen safe by replacing outdated electrical wiring with new ones to ensure that your wires have the capacity to handle the increased electrical load of modern appliances such as a coffee maker, pressure cooker and many more. Common problems that indicate the need for a wiring change are flickering lights, overheated electrical appliances, burning smells and electrical sparks from appliances.

Keep kitchen utensils in place

Besides fire hazards, kitchen utensils also pose a significant risk of physical injuries. Keep sharp and breakable objects like knives, glass dinnerware and blenders in knife blocks and cabinets to prevent easy reach from the kids and elderly. Storing them in a designated place also makes kitchen utensils easier to find and your kitchen more organised. As soon as you take the pot off, make sure to turn off the burners immediately — remember to use a well-insulated pot holder to remove hot objects to prevent scalding! Keep flammable items such as tea towels, pot holders and cloths away from your stove. 

Purchase a personal accident insurance

Observing basic kitchen safety rules is a good habit to develop; why not take personal safety a step further with AIG’s personal accident insurance? The plan provides coverage from severe burns to long-term hospitalization, providing you with financial support in the case of accidents. With the lump sum payout of certain benefits that come with the insurance plan, rest assured that you and your family is taken care of should anything happen! For more information, head over to https://www.aig.my/blog/what-is-personal-accident-insurance and understand how personal accident insurance can benefit you.