Safe Holiday Cooking: Don’t Let Dinner Go Up in Flames

By Nellie Marie Nunez
Health Education Associate-Trauma Program

Tis The Season for Kitchen Safety

Boy sits expectantly at the dinner table. When thinking about traditional holiday cheer, turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, touchdowns and spending time with family around the dinner table often come to mind.

This time of year is so closely associated with special holiday meals, that it’s important to remember a few key kitchen safety tips.

Winter Months Bring Greater Fire Hazards

According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, cooking is the primary cause of residential fires. In fact, most of those fires occur during the winter months. In 2010, someone died in a fire every 169 minutes. Fire and burn injuries represent 1 percent of the incidence of injuries and 2 percent of the total costs of injuries or $7.5 billion each year. Luckily, a little common sense prevention can go a long way!

Fire Prevention Tips

Most at risk for burns and scalds are children under 4 years of age. Accidents usually happen when a small child reaches for the countertop and grabs a pot handle, tipping it over. As a result, hot liquids spill onto the child’s face and chest, which can cause severe injury. This is why pot handles should remain turned in and out of the sight and reach of children.

This tendency to reach and grab is also why tablecloths or placemats should not be used if young children are in the home. They may tug on them and spill hot food and liquids onto themselves.

Danger Zone

Remind all children—those living with you or visiting your home—that the kitchen is not a play area. Make sure adults are made aware that small children are not allowed in the kitchen. Use a safety gate to restrict access. Tape off a 3-foot section around the stove and explain why the danger zone is completely off limits.

Here are some more tips for the holiday cooking season to help you avoid injuries in the kitchen:

Never leave cooking food unattended.
Keep the stove clear of items that may catch fire or which may attract children (toys or games).
Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves.
Don’t leave oven doors open.
Don’t allow appliance cords to dangle from counter tops .
Pan fires can be easily put out by sliding a cover over the flames.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in a visible place, away from heat sources.
Open microwave food slowly and away from your face.

I can’t promise these safety tips will earn you the title of Top Chef but they can help you enjoy a memorable yet safe holiday cooking season!

For more valuable tips, brochures and other resources on how to keep your family healthy, visit our Injury Prevention Program at CHLA.org/InjuryPrevention.

You can also check out other injury prevention blog posts for similar articles.