Elderly cooking safety. The kitchen is often the heart of the home but can also be a dangerous place for the elderly. Fact every 3.5 minutes a kitchen fire ignites in the US. According to NFPA seniors over 65 are much more likely to have a kitchen fire. Cooking fires result in over 1 Billion $ in property damage every year. These cooking fires can result in minor smoke damage to a complete loss or even worse a loss life. Never leave food unattended.
“Most kitchen fires occur because food is left unattended on the stove or in the oven. Never leave food that is cooking on the stove unattended. Never leave the kitchen — even for a short time — when food is frying, grilling, or broiling. Don’t leave the house if food is simmering, baking, or roasting. For people with Alzheimer’s or dementia who tend to turn on the stove, then walk away and forget they turned it on, this is easier said than done. However, a variety of products and devices are available to reduce the risk of accidentally leaving the stove turned on. For example, auto shut-off devices can be installed to automatically turn off the stove and oven after a set period of time.” (Sollitto Marlo, AgingCare.com)
For Example FireAvert automatically shuts-off the stove when the smoke alarm sounds. We know stove fires can smoke for hours before any fire. When the smoke alarm sounds from food left unattended, that sound will turn off the stove preventing a stove fire. FireAvert offers a peace of mind invaluable, particularly if you have an elderly chef in your life.
Elderly cooking safety tips are good for everyone. Here are some few basic cooking safety tips.
Turn pot handles in away from from walking areas.
Don’t ware loose clothing around the kitchen.
Never leave food unattended even for a minute.
Use the proper pots and pans for what you are cooking.
Always use fire safety products when necessary.