4. If you're using a gas element, make sure that the flame isn't licking up the sides of the saucepan. The handles will melt, or at least become very hot.
4b. Melting plastic smells atrocious.
5. Keep matches by your gas appliances. Long matches. Otherwise you may lose a hand.
5b. Don't leave the gas on for very long before striking the match. Otherwise you may lose a hand.

And one I learned from Rescue 911 as a child, which scared the crap out of me:

Don't cook in anything flowy, or highly flammable. If you don't sew, consider everything to be highly flammable. Catching fire is a Bad Thing.