As our kitchens get bigger and become the center of family togetherness, kitchen safety becomes even more important.

Keep these safety hints in mind when your working -- or socializing -- in the modern "family room."

- Put heavy object on low shelves.
- Locate emergency numbers prominently by the phone.
- Use short, heavy-duty extension cords.
- Unplug appliances when you're done with them.
- Keep appliance cords from dangling from the counter.
- Keep radios, televisions, and other electrical appliances away from the sink.
- Select rugs with non-slip backing or tape them down with double-sided tape.
- Install childproof safety latches on cabinets that contain cleaning chemicals.
- Keep an ABC- or BC- rated fire extinguisher near the range. Inspect it monthly to ensure it's fully charged and has not been damaged.
- Clean up accumulated grease from your vent hood.
- Keep baking soda or salt near the range to extinguish small flames on the stove.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing that could catch fire or get caught in appliances. If your clothing should catch fire, remember: "STOP, DROP, AND ROLL."
- Consider buying a smoke detector designed especially for the kitchen -- you can silence the detector, so you won't be tempted to disarm it.
- Warn children that electrical stoves are hot, even after they're turned off -- and remind them frequently.
- Turn pan handles towards the back of the range, so they don't hang over the edge where they could be knocked over.
- Use electrical outlets with ground-fault circuit interrupters to reduce the risk of electrocution.
- Put matches in high cabinets, out of the reach of younger children.