The Odessa Fire Department is partnering with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Kitchen Safety Starts with YOU.” Pay attention to fire prevention. This year’s campaign, which runs from October 8 to 14, aims to educate families about the simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.
The Odessa Fire Department and local State Farm Officer Laura Edge encourage all residents to cook with caution. To support these efforts, Agent Edge recently donated a Fire Prevention Week kit to the fire department, which includes home safety and fire prevention activities and information for children and adults , indicates a press release.
“State Farm encourages homeowners to make fire prevention an important part of their overall home safety plan. Fire Prevention Week is a reminder that safe cooking should be at the top of the list. Now is also a good time to check your smoke alarms to make sure they are working,” Laura said in the release.
The Odessa Fire Department shared the following kitchen safety tips as part of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign:
- Turn the pot handles toward the back of the stove to avoid spills and burns.
- Always keep a lid nearby when cooking on the stove. If a small fire breaks out, slide the lid back onto the pan and turn off the burner.
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, broiling or grilling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- If you simmer, bake, or roast foods, check them regularly, stay home while cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Keep children and pets 3 feet away from the stove/oven and areas where hot foods and liquids are served.
Watch what you heat. Set a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. - Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels or curtains – away from your stove.
- To be fowarding something. If you are tired or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove/oven.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Kitchen Safety Starts with YOU.” Pay Attention to Fire Prevention,” visit fpw.org.
