Cooking Safety When Living Alone

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. When you live alone, a moment of distraction in the kitchen can escalate fast with no one to catch it.

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Cooking causes nearly half of all home fires. People living alone are at higher risk because there is no one to notice a pot left on the stove or a towel too close to a burner.

The Challenge

No one to notice if you fall asleep or get distracted while something is cooking on the stove

A grease fire or burn can quickly overwhelm one person trying to manage it alone

Smoke inhalation or burns can incapacitate you with no one to call for help

How I'm Alive Helps

Use timers for every cooking session and never leave the kitchen while the stove is on

Keep a fire extinguisher and a lid for grease fires within arm's reach of your stove

Set an I'm Alive check-in so contacts are alerted if a kitchen emergency leaves you unable to respond

Preventing Kitchen Fires When You Cook Alone

The number one rule for solo cooks: never leave cooking food unattended. Set a timer every time you use the stove or oven, even for quick tasks. Keep flammable items -- towels, paper, wooden utensils, packaging -- at least three feet from the stove. Wear fitted clothing with short or rolled-up sleeves. Maintain your kitchen equipment: clean grease buildup from stovetops and ovens regularly, replace frayed appliance cords, and test your smoke alarms monthly. Keep a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires (Class B and C) within reach and know how to use it. A large pot lid can smother a grease fire -- never use water on grease.

Handling Kitchen Emergencies Alone

If a grease fire starts, turn off the burner and slide a lid over the pan. Never throw water on it -- water causes grease fires to explode. If an oven fire starts, turn off the oven and keep the door closed to starve the fire of oxygen. If fire spreads beyond the pan, leave immediately, close the kitchen door, and call 911 from outside. For burns, run cool (not cold) water over the burn for at least ten minutes. Do not apply butter, oil, or ice. If the burn is larger than your palm or on your face, hands, or joints, call 911. Your I'm Alive check-in provides a safety net -- if a kitchen accident incapacitates you, a missed check-in triggers your contacts to send help.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of kitchen fires?

Unattended cooking is the leading cause. Leaving the kitchen while food is on the stove or in the oven accounts for roughly one-third of all cooking fires. When you live alone, there is no one else to keep watch, making it critical to stay in the kitchen whenever you are cooking.

How do I put out a grease fire?

Turn off the burner. Slide a metal lid or baking sheet over the pan to smother the flames. Never use water -- it will cause the grease to splatter and the fire to spread. If the fire is too large to cover, leave the kitchen, close the door, and call 911.

What fire safety equipment should I have in my kitchen?

A fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires (ABC type), a working smoke alarm within earshot of the kitchen, a large metal lid for smothering pan fires, and an oven mitt. Test your smoke alarm monthly and check your extinguisher pressure gauge regularly.

How does I'm Alive help with kitchen safety?

If a cooking accident causes burns, smoke inhalation, or incapacitation, you may not be able to call for help. Your daily I'm Alive check-in ensures that a missed response automatically alerts your emergency contacts, who can then send help to your address.