Accidents around the home can easily be prevented. The kitchen is possibly the most dangerous room in the house for children but taking a few precautions and child-proofing your kitchen appliances as well as your home could well be the difference between an injury and safe living.

It is now mandatory in most states of Australia to have quality smoke alarms installed. Placing the alarm in a central position of the kitchen will give peace of mind in the event of a fire outbreak while the room is empty. Though leaving any appliance unattended while it is on is not advisable under any circumstances.
Cords and plugs Maintenance checks not only of your small appliances but also the cords and plugs should be carried out regularly. Check for any frayed cords and have them repaired or replace the unit. Overloaded power points can cause sparks so be sure to have adequate outlets that have been installed by a qualified electrician. Follow the operating instructions and unplug an appliance by the plug and not by pulling on the cord. Out of reach and harms way Children are the most inquisitive with objects they can see. Keep all appliances well to the rear of the counter tops and store away in a cupboard when not in use. Dangling cords over the bench are an accident waiting to happen if there are small children in the house. Prevention only takes a few seconds which is all it takes for an injury. Oven guards It only takes a second for a child to fall against the hot surface of the oven door. Burns can happen in an instant. Oven guards are a must if you have toddlers. It is just not possible to keep them away from the kitchen if that is where everyone else in the family is, so again prevention makes sense. Start education early Start the education process early and be sure to let children know what can happen if they try to jag a piece of bread out of the toaster with a knife for example. Remind them of the dangers of a kitchen and set the rules for playing areas well away from ovens and home appliances. The earlier you start an awareness program the less chance of accidents occurring. Childproof locks for stove and oven knobs Childproof locks for stove and oven knobs as well as kitchen cupboards are easily purchased from hardware store and only take a few minutes to install making them well worth the effort and money. Sensible cooking techniques Practicing sensible cooking techniques becomes second nature after a while. Cook on back burners whenever possible and turn handles in on cooktops. Keep flames on gas stove tops well under the edge of the pan and avoid high heat frying to prevent igniting oil. While children love to help in the kitchen they should always be under the supervision of a responsible adult. Make sure they are not in a position to reach in to the bowl of a hand mixer as it is running for instance and if they have to stand on a chair to reach the bench make sure it is stable.

Statistics have shown the majority of accidents involving children occur in and around the home. Prepare well and practice sensible cooking techniques to prevent electrical shorts and food fires on stove tops and in ovens thus making the kitchen a place of safety instead of a danger zone.