It’s easy to throw caution to the wind while doing everyday activities like cooking on the stove, especially if you’re trying to manage children and pets at the same time. But too often this happens and results in home fires. Practice home security and safety in one of the most-used rooms with these helpful safety tips.

• Stick around: Stay in the kitchen while you’re cooking anything on a stovetop range, but most importantly if you’re frying food. It’s easy to start doing something in another room and forget you’re cooking something on the stove.

• Set boundaries: Keep anything that can catch fire easily at least three feet away from the range like potholders, dishtowels or plastic bags. Also keep any children or pets three feet away and teach them to stay away from the stove.

• Detect it: Install smoke detectors and an ADT home alarm system with smoke- and heat-detecting sensors so that in case something you’re cooking gets out of control, you, your family and the proper emergency services authorities can be alerted.

• Form good habits: Cook on back burners if possible and turn pot handles toward the back of the range so that small children can’t reach them. Also, keep any hot containers like pans or trays away from the counter’s edge.

• Keep it clean: Always clean your cooking area after you’re done and everything has cooled. Keep grease from building up on the range, microwave and oven.

Your laundry room may be the focus of one of your biggest household chores, but it also presents plenty of hazards. Be sure to clean up your mess, and pay attention to these items and areas to help keep your home safe:

* Buckets/tubs: When not in use, empty and store buckets and tubs upside-down to help prevent spills and to prevent children from accessing hazardous chemicals.

* Floors: Clean up any spills immediately. Also keep the floor clear of items to help prevent falls.

* Washer and dryer: Stay nearby while the washer and dryer are in operation. Prevent fires by cleaning out the dryer lint trap before each use. Also, install smoke detectors and heat sensors included with your ADT security equipment or other home alarm systems to alert you in case of an emergency.

There are few things more appealing to a curious toddler than something to climb onto, including bulky, top-heavy furniture. It takes almost no time for a piece of furniture or large item to topple over, potentially causing serious injury. Even if your home’s exterior is secure with an ADT home alarm system, there are hazards inside of your home that can be easily fixed.

So take a look around, evaluate your living area and apply these simple home safety tips to help prevent furniture tip-overs in your home.

* Anchored away: Secure any top-heavy or unsteady pieces of furniture to a wall using anchors, braces, brackets or wall straps. Beware of placing large items on stands or furniture because items like book cases, fish tanks and TVs can fall off stands and injure children. Be especially careful when anchoring flat screen TVs to the walls.

* Lower is better: Keep heavier items on lower shelves to help make furniture bottom-heavy and less prone to tipping over. But always read manufacturer’s instructions on placement of your TV and furniture and follow the guidelines and warnings.

* Stray items: Make sure unsteady furniture and shelves are clear of items that can be tempting to children like toys, candy and  remote controls.

Many products that help keep your home and vehicles clean and in working condition may also be harmful and poisonous. Practice caution when using and storing household chemicals and substances, and in case of ingestion call the national poison hot line at 1-800-222-1222. Follow the tips below to help ensure the safety of your home.

• Same container: Keep products properly labeled in the same container they came in. Moving them to other containers can lead to improper use and hazards.

• Follow directions: Don’t compromise your home’s safety by mixing products together that may cause chemical reactions. Always follow the directions on a product’s packaging, especially if they call for using gloves, eye goggles and other safety wear. Mix insect sprays as directed in outdoor areas away from areas your family members and pets use.

• Out of Reach: Store and lock products labeled with the words “Poison,” “Danger,” “Keep out of Reach of Children” and “Warning” in a place where children cannot see or reach them. Some products may include antifreeze, pesticides, paint thinner and automotive fluids. Also be careful of pool chemicals, which are poisonous and flammable. Make sure that flammable materials are stored near smoke detectors, which are often included as part of home alarm systems.