RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
February 12, 1999
CHIP WEEK WARNING FROM RoSPA
A warning to take care when cooking that most favourite of British dishes - the humble chip - was made by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today in preparation for National Chip Week starting on Monday.
Chip pan fires claim around 30 lives a year and injure 3,000 people. Latest figures show that the chip pan is currently the second biggest cause of accidental house fires in Britain.
In 1997, it was responsible for 12,300 house fires. That was an increase of five per cent compared with 1996 and represents 22 per cent of the total 72,000 dwelling fires.
As part of National Chip Week, RoSPA recommends these ‘healthy’ tips for cooking a safe chip:
- Make sure pans are no more than a third full of fat.
- Never leave a chip pan unattended.
- Make sure there is nothing near the pan, like a tea cloth that could catch fire.
- If possible use a thermostatically-controlled, free-standing fat fryer.
- Keep a fire blanket in the kitchen for small fires, but never be tempted to tackle more than a small fire yourself.
- Fit a smoke alarm.
Sarah Colles, RoSPA Head of Home Safety, said: "Chips are a traditional dish that many people enjoy - unfortunately each year people are killed or injured because they ignore simple safety measures. If people follow RoSPA’s tips, they will be able to continue to enjoy their chips safely."
Remember:
You are three times more likely to survive a fire in your home if you have fitted a smoke alarm, but make sure it is in working order. Check it is working once a month and change the batteries once a year. NEVER take the batteries out for any other purpose.
