Be Red Cross Ready for Fire in the Kitchen

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards.  Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.  During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

It has been found that most fires originate in the kitchen.  Follow these steps to avoid a fire while cooking.  Start by not wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.  Never leave cooking food unattended – stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food.  If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

A stove after a house fire.

Fire Safety Tips for the Kitchen:

• Check your food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while cooking.  Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.

• Keep the kids away from the cooking area. Enforce a “kid-free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove.

• Keep anything that can catch fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.

• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.  Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.

• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all the stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

• Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed.  Use the test button to check it each month.  Replace all batteries at least once per year.

The Red Cross responded to more than 62,960 home fires during the 2011 fiscal year. House fires are the worst disaster threat to families in the United States. To learn how to prevent a fire in your home and how to keep members of your household safe, you can download The Red Cross Fire Prevention and Safety Checklist.  Downloadable fact sheets are also available at http://www.redcross.org/ on how to be fire safe over the holidays, how to avoid home heating fires, candle safety, proper use of smoke alarms and teaching your children what to do in the event of a fire. 

Guess Who: The American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet

Football season is up and running, and while some players are focused on stats and endorsements, one NFL star is using his celebrity to help others. For this player, volunteerism is no spectator sport.  At 6’5’’ and 230 lbs. this quarterback has thrown almost 400 touchdown passes and garnered 54,828 yards throughout his twelve-year professional career. After getting his start with the University of Tennessee Volunteers, he was a first round draft pick for this outstanding player was a first-round draft pick for the Indianapolis Colts. He is the son of Archie Manning and older brother to Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning. You guessed it; today’s celebrity cabinet member is none other than Peyton Manning, a man that is really in the “red zone.”

 "I'm happy to volunteer for the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet. The Red Cross is an organization that responds to those in need and it is an honor to help them with the lifesaving role they play everyday in communities nationwide," says Manning.