Burn Prevention in the Kitchen for Seniors
The idea of a home fire is a terrifying thought, especially if your loved one lives alone and has mobility issues. You may rightfully worry about how she would get out safely and if she would know what to do if a fire started in the kitchen.
Every year, the first week of February is National Burn Awareness Week and in 2025, it occurs from Feb 2-8. This year’s theme focuses on preventing burns that occur in people’s homes. It doesn’t matter if your elderly loved one has an apartment, or a house, or lives in an assisted living community, if she has a kitchen, she can be at risk of getting burned.
Tips to Prevent a Fire From Starting
Now is a great time to use National Burn Awareness Week to talk to your loved one about important safety steps she should be taking in the kitchen to prevent a fire from starting and protect herself from getting burned.
- Never leave a stove unattended. She should stay nearby whenever using the stove and if she needs to leave the house, the stove should be turned off. Keeping a roast in the stove for hours while she’s running errands can result in a fire if she doesn’t return home for some reason.
- Always use backburners to avoid accidentally touching or leaning against a hot burner.
- Remove any dangling sleeves such as from a robe or sweater so it doesn’t catch a pot and turn it over or catch on fire over a burner.
- Never use the stove when intoxicated, under the influence of strong prescription drugs, or overly sleepy. All of those situations could cause her to fall asleep before she completes her cooking.
- When using the microwave, only use items specifically made for the microwave, and always allow cooked items a minute or two to rest to prevent steam burns.
Tips to Reduce Burn Risk if a Fire Does Start
If a fire does start, here are some steps to prevent too much damage or harm.
- Immediately cover the pan with a lid or cookie sheet. Never try to move it to the sink to douse as the fire could easily spread to the walls or curtains.
- Turn off the heat and let the item completely cool down before approaching it again.
- If a fire is inside the stove or microwave, turn the item off and keep the door closed until the fire dies down.
- If a fire begins to spread, get out quickly, and call 9-1-1. Do not go back inside for any reason.
Why 24-hour Home Care May be the Best Prevention
If your loved one is at a spot in her life where her cognitive ability makes using the kitchen difficult or if she has mobility issues that could prevent her from escaping an unsafe situation, you might want to consider hiring a 24-hour home care team to help with all cooking and food preparation in her home so she can remain independent while staying safe.
A 24-hour home care team can manage the kitchen and either take care of all meal prep with her or work alongside her as she prepares meals and cleans up after them. If there ever is a dangerous issue that arises, a 24-hour home care provider will be there to make sure your loved one is kept safe and the proper actions are taken to protect both her and her home.