H | aR, Let (NAPSA)—While there can be such a thing as “too many cooks in the kitchen,” no cooks in the kitchen can be far more common, say safety experts, and potentially far more dangerous. Statistics show that three in 10 residential fires begin in the kitchen. And, in nearly 75 percent of homefires reported, the person responsible for the fire was not in the area whenit started. During the holiday season, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have teamed up to offer the following commonsense steps people can take to minimize their risk of a kitchen fire: * Wear clothing with short sleeves or rolled-up long sleeves to keep them away from open flames. * Keep cooking surfaces clean. * Turn pot handles inward and supervise children in the kitchen at all times. * Always keep an eye on what you are cooking. “We're trying to get the message out to consumers to be very careful about what they’re doing in the kitchen and don’t leave pots and pans unattended,” said Hal Stratton, chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Besides unattended cooking, grease fires present a particularly dangeroussituation because many peoples’ first instinct is to use 4 \ 4 Give yourself the gift of a safe holiday season. Minimize your risk of kitchen fires. water to put out the flames, which can actually make the situation worse. The best way to control a grease fire is to smother it. Make sure you keep a lid close by that fits the pan you're using, and ifa grease fire occurs, bring the lid in low and cover the pan to smother the fire. Leave the lid on the pan and allow it to cool. If you have a household fire extinguisher, make sure you know how to properly useit. Experts add that if a fire does occur, it is best to leave the house immediately and call 911 for help. To receive a free brochure with more cooking safety tips, call 1- 877-STIR-SAF.
