Keeping danger away

There is something peaceful, calm, secure and safe when you hear the word home. You think of a safe haven, where you and your family members rest and prepare for the next day’s venture; where you nurture your little loved one in the hope that they will have a place, even better than that, in future.

Unfortunately, you are more likely to have an accident at home than anywhere else. Some areas of the home are potentially more dangerous than others. This three-part series will take a careful look at your home, and see what measures can be taken to minimise accidents at home and make it a safe haven.

The kitchen
If is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house. Apart from the fact that there are fires and hot objects in the kitchen, there is also a lot of human traffic going in and out of he kitchen. Here are bits of advice about safety in the kitchen:

o Keep all matches and gas lighters away from the reach of children.
o Do not turn the gas burners so high that the flames come up the sides of the pan. It wastes heat and the flames may melt the handles or make them very hot.
o Ensure that your sleeves or scarves do not hang over a naked flame. They can catch fire! Similarly, do not hang cloths, plastic bags or other materials above your cooker.
o Make sure that your cooker is placed away from direct breeze from the window.
o Turn the pan handles away from the edge of the cooker when cooking. You or a child could accidentally tip them over.
o When deep-frying, make sure you have a heavy blanket or appropriate fire extinguisher ready to smother any fire.
o Do not fill the frying pan more than a third full of oil, and never leave hot oil unattended.
o Use the pressure cooker according to the manufacturer’s instructions and do not attempt to open when it is boiling.
o If you must have toddlers in the kitchen when working, make sure they are restrained.
o If you use a charcoal jiko, make sure your toddler cannot reach it and that the room is well ventilated.
o Kerosene stoves are explosive and should be used with great care. If you need to add more kerosene, turn off the stove and let it cool first.
o If you smell leaking gas, do not strike a match or switch on a light. Disconnect the gas and take it outside. Open all the windows. Do not light a fire until there is no more smell.

Watch out for safety in other rooms in the next issues.

END: BL21/56