It’s hard to believe that the room in your home you cherish the most is where the most accidents can happen. And yet...

The kitchen: a place of all dangers

Whether you're an expert cook or just an amateur, there will always come a time when the elements are against you and everything can go wrong. Gas, stovetops, ovens... Anything can cause a fire to start, whether you're there or not. The many flammable products found in the kitchen or the reactions caused by boiling water meeting certain foods can put you in a tricky situation.

Don’t play with fire!

• Never leave pans and pots unattended on the stove.
• Don’t forget to turn off the stove when leaving the kitchen.
• Have your gas installation checked regularly.
• Don’t use the stove as a heating appliance!

If your stove catches fire, use a lid or a fire blanket to put it out.

• Make sure matches or cigarettes are completely extinguished before throwing them in the trash.
• If you use a gas water heater, ventilate sufficiently to avoid CO poisoning.
• Have your appliance checked and cleaned every year by an approved professional.

If someone is poisoned by CO, open doors and windows and turn off the appliance. Evacuate the person from the room and call 112. Think about checking our section on gas detectors.