Living Well 60+ November – December 2014 | Page 22
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NOV/DEC 2014
Being conscientious about your
surroundings can make a difference. “Whether it is an electric or a
gas stove, it is a heat source, so you
should make sure there is nothing around that heat source that
could burn, whether it is a towel,
potholder or newspaper,” said
Berard-Reed.
Educate family members about
kitchen safety because the issue
affects everyone. “It is about developing healthy habits early on that
will carry you into your older years
so you can live at home as independently and safely as possible,” said
Berard-Reed. “If people slow down
and remember to get into the safe
habits, follow through and try not
to rush, cooking can still be a safe
activity for folks even if they are
older.
Kitchen Safety Requires
Attentiveness
Keeping the home fires burning safely
by Jamie Lober, Staff Writer
When it comes to maintaining a
safe home, the kitchen can be one
of the biggest areas of concern. It
doesn’t take a lot of time to brew
up trouble in the kitchen.
“Kitchen fires are the leading
cause of home fires, and older
adults have a disproportionate
amount of [these] fires,” said
Karen Berard-Reed, senior project
manager in public education for
high-risk outreach at the National
Fire Protection Association.
Berard-Reed said unattended
cooking is the No. 1 cause of
kitchen fires. Stay in the kitchen
when you are cooking, especially if
you are frying. If you have to leave
the room, take some precautions.
“We suggest you use a timer or
bring a wooden spoon or cooking
net with you [when you leave] to
remind you that you have something on the stove,” said Berard-
Reed. “A physical reminder in your
hand is a really good idea to stay
conscious to the idea that your
stove is on and you have something
cooking.”
Be alert when you’re cooking.
“Older adults may cook while
drowsy or when they’re on medication that makes them sleepy or
even while drinking alcohol,” said
Berard-Reed. “All of those things
can interfere with safe cooking.”
Make sure you can handle your
cookware. “If your pans are heavy
and you have lost some of your
strength, [lifting them] could be a
challenge,” said Berard-Reed.
Also, be conscious of what you
are wearing in the kitchen. “You
would be surprised how many
people start up the stove and the
sash of their bathrobe is hanging
down with droopy sleeves,” said
Berard-Reed. It’s better to wear
short, rolled-up or tight-fitting
sleeves.
Preparedness is the key. “Always
have a lid nearby so if a fire were to
occur, you could put the lid over
it to extinguish the flame,” said
Berard-Reed. “If it is a larger fire
that gets out of control, quickly
leave your home and call 911 from
outside the home, whether from a
neighbor’s house or a cell phone.
We do not suggest folks try to
fight the fires themselves because
even fire extinguishers take some
training to be used correctly.” If you
have a fire extinguisher, take the
time to learn how it works. In addition, smoke alarms are a necessity.
“Working smoke alarms save
lives,” said Berard-Reed. Test yours
every month and make sure the
batteries are still active.
Unattended cooking is the No.
1 cause of kitchen fires.