How to cook safely

Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob.
Keep matches and sauce pan handles out of reach to keep them safe.

• Take extra care if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking, take pans off the heat or turn them down to avoid risk.
• Make sure saucepan handles don't stick out - so they don't get knocked off the stove.
• Take care if you're wearing loose clothing - they can easily catch fire.
• Spark devices are safer than matches or lighters to light gas cookers, because they don't have a naked flame.
• Double check your cooker is off when you ave finished cooking.

Take care with electrics

• Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water.
• Check toasters are clean and placed away from curtains and kitchen rolls.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and in good working order. A build up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.

Don't put anything metal in the microwave.

Deep fat frying

• Take care when cooking with hot oil - it sets alight easily.
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil so it doesn't splash.
• If the oil starts to smoke it is too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer. They can't overheat.

What to do if a pan catches fire

• Don't take any risks. Turn off the heat if it's safe to do so. Never throw water over it.
• Don't tackle the fire yourself.

The video below shows the dangers of adding water to a cooking oil fire. Remember never tackle the fire yourself, call 999.