Preparing a special meal for friends and family, especially around the holidays, is a time-honored and much loved tradition.  But cooking equipment, most often a range or stovetop, is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States according to the US Fire Administration. Before you begin preparing your next meal, stop and think about the simple ways you can reduce your risk of becoming a statistic. Follow these simple tips for safe cooking:

• Avoid cooking if you’ve been drinking alcohol or are taking medication or other substances that can cause drowsiness. The kitchen is no place to be if your judgment and ability to focus are impaired.
• Keep potholders, dish towels and oven mitts away from the stovetop, heating elements or open flames. And remember, they must be dry to protect your hands, so replace wet or soiled items immediately.
• Always keep the handles of pots or pans on your stovetop pointed away from the front edge of the stovetop. You will be less likely to bump into them and children less likely to reach them. Use the back burners instead of front ones whenever possible.
• Talking on the phone, watching your favorite television program and other distractions can lead to trouble in the kitchen. Stay focused on the task at hand.As eager as young cooks may be to help prepare or serve food, they are safer away from the kitchen.
• Consider making your kitchen a child-free zone during busy holiday times or allow children to help only when you can focus on them completely and all heat sources are off/cool to the touch. Keep pets out of the kitchen, too.
• Setting a timer is a good idea when your dish is baking inside the oven. Not only will you avoid overdone meals, but that friendly “ding!” reminds you to stay alert and engaged in the food preparation process.

Fire! Now what?
Most important, remain calm if a fire occurs in your kitchen. With your emotions under control, you are more likely to manage the situation effectively. Here’s the best plan of action:

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• For a microwave fire, turn off the power and keep the unit’s door closed.
• For a stovetop fire, cover the burning pan with a tight-fitting lid or cookie sheet larger than the pan to smother the fire.
• Never use water in an attempt to douse the flames, as it might actually spread the fire.
• Never use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a grease fire – you actually may spread the fire if you get too close.  Instead, smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid or cookie sheet over the pan (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt). Turn off the stove if you can safely do so, or turn off the circuit breaker or gas valve.”
• If you can’t immediately put out the fire with these steps, then take decisive action and leave your home immediately, and close all doors behind you to slow the spread of the fire.