Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, and most of these fires occur when someone leaves food cooking unattended. Fire Prevention Week 2009, which runs through Saturday, October 10, is a good time to review cooking safety (watch the video, right) and fire safety in general, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit standard-setting organization.

Look for our new report on smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms in the November 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands later today.

When you're cooking:
• Stay in the kitchen whenever you fry or broil food. When boiling or baking, check the food regularly and set a timer.
• Use back burners if you have young children. Enforce a kids-free-zone of at least 3 feet from the stove. Learn how to childproof your stove.
• Extinguish a small stovetop pan fire by placing a lid on pan and turning off the burner; be sure to wear an oven mitt. Do not pour water on a grease fire or use a fire extinguisher on a pan fire.
• Turn off the oven immediately and keep the oven door closed if there's an oven fire.
    
If you get a burn or scald, treat the area immediately by submerging it in cool water for 3 to 5 minutes, then cover the spot with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away if the burn is bigger than your fist, and keep clothes, jewelry, and any metal off the area. Check out our expert advice on dealing with burns and scalds on ConsumerReportsHealth.org.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Set up or practice your fire-escape plan.