Is your cooking stove a natural gas model? Then you’ll need to take extra safety measures with it. It’s rare, but these stoves can sometimes leak, and when they do it’s very dangerous. If you ever notice a strong smell of natural gas, do not light any matches or lighters, or turn any electrical switches on or off, as that could cause an explosion. You should immediately open all the windows and get everyone out of the house, and notify your utility company. They know how to handle such situations, which aren’t for amateurs. If you have a stove with a pilot light, and it goes out, shut the natural gas off at the valve, and wait for 10 minutes to let any gas disperse that had built up before relighting it. On any kind of stove, whether electric or gas, there are general measures you can take to make cooking as safe as possible. Don’t ever leave the house while cooking, even for a short trip, unless another adult will be there. Even when you’re cooking while doing other tasks, you should check on the stove from time to time just for safety’s sake. Never wear loose fitting clothing while cooking. Not only is it awkward, and tends to get messy, it can also get caught on the handles of pots and pans, leading to spills and burns. You should always turn the handles of pots and pans inward when cooking, so that someone doesn’t come along too close to the stove, and accidentally knock them over.
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