Did you know that next week is Fire Prevention Week? Fire Prevention Week has been observed annually the week of October 9th since 1922. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge made it a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in the United States. Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which took place in 1871 and left devastating damage. Each year during Fire Prevention Week, a theme is selected to help people learn how to prevent fires and stay safe in the event of a fire. This year’s theme is Cooking Safety Starts with YOU!
Did you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries? Thankfully, there are a few simple but effective things we can do while cooking to help prevent cooking fires and burns:
- When cooking on stovetop, turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and always keep a lid or even a sheet pan nearby. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid orsheet pan over the pot and turn off the burner.
- Keep flammable items away from the stovetop like wooden utensils, towels, curtains, oven mits, and food packages.
- Stand by your pan when cooking on the stove. Turn off the burner if you leave the kitchen.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen, even for a short time.
- Remember to watch what you heat. When cooking, set a timer to remind you to check your food.
- If possible, have a “kid free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and other areas where hot food or drinks are prepared of carried.
In addition to practicing these cooking safety tips, a few additional steps you can take to stay safe in the event of a fire include:
- Plan your escape route.
- Test your smoke alarms.
- Practice at-home fire drills and select an outdoor meeting location in advance.
- Close before you doze. Over a decade of research conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute has shown that closed doors can save lives in the event of a fire. When a fire occurs, mere seconds can make a difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. A closed door helps prevent and slow down a fire’s entrance into a room, buying you more time to escape.
For more information, resources and activities related to this year’s Fire Prevention Week, check out the Fire Prevention Week toolkit.
Written by Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County
Reviewed by Lisa Barlage, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Ross County
Sources:
Fire Safety Research Institute (2021). Close Before You Doze. https://fsri.org/programs/close-before-you-doze
National Fire Protection Association. About Fire Prevention Week. https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week/About