Don’t let cuts, burns, or food poisoning ruin your holiday.
If you’ve ever cooked before, chances are you know the basic rules of the kitchen, which include always washing your hands, tying your hair back, and keeping an eye on an open flame. However, there’s more that goes into maintaining a safe kitchen, and every detail matters when it comes to your family’s health and safety.
This Thanksgiving, Phoenix ER & Hospital is sharing these five tips for kitchen safety, along with what to do in case of a cooking-related accident.
Dos and Don’ts of the Kitchen
1. Change your cutting boards
No one wants to wash extra dishes, but if it’s between that and food poisoning, we’ll take the extra time cleaning. Using the same cutting board for meats, fruits, and vegetables is not ideal as this can get the whole family sick. It’s best to play it safe and follow the FDA’s recommendation to use two separate cutting boards—one for raw meat, poultry and seafood, and one for everything else. If you must make do with a single cutting board, prepare the foods separately, and wash the board with soap and water between uses.
2. Learn how to use knives
Did you know, a dull knife is more likely to slip and cut you than a sharp knife? One of the best ways to keep your blades safe is to keep them sharpened. Additionally, make sure you’re choosing the right knife for the job. Click here for a guide of kitchen knife types and when to use them.
3. Learn how to extinguish a fire
Cooking is the leading cause of fires and injuries that occur at home, and there are about 164,500 residential fires in the United States each year because of it. It only takes seconds for a fire to become uncontrollable, so make sure you always have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Before the holidays, brush up on the different types of fires, and the most effective way to put them out.
4. Wear safe clothing
You should be able to move freely and comfortably in the kitchen, so ditch the high heels and tassels while cooking. You also want to avoid baggy, flammable, or synthetic clothing, as they are more prone to catch on fire. A shirt with fitted sleeves is best when dealing with boiling water or oil, so your skin is protected from splashing.
This tip is especially important to consider during the fall and winter months when holiday sweaters, party attire, and other festive clothing are worn most.
5. Stir and lift away from you
If you lift the lid off a pot towards you, the scalding condensation at the top can drip onto your skin and cause burns. The same goes for stirring. Save your skin, and always remember to lift and stir away from you. Additionally, make sure the handles of your pots and pans are facing inwards while you cook. Stove-top burns can easily be caused by accidentally knocking into a handle and resulting in hot or boiling spillage.
Care
If you come across a cooking-related accident this Thanksgiving, we’re here to help.
Burns: Most minor burns can be treated at home, but the key is to act fast. Running the injury under cool water, applying ointment (i.e. petroleum jelly or aloe vera), and bandaging the affected area are all appropriate home remedies to soothe the burn. If your burn is too severe to take care of at home, visit our facility for professional assessment and dressing.
Cuts: Apply pressure to the area as soon as you realize you’re cut. There are many things you can do for scraps and non-severe cuts at home, including washing with soap and water, cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, applying antibiotic-ointment, and bandaging. Come see us for medical care within 6 hours if the bleeding has not stopped, as you might need stitches. Additionally, seek help if you notice redness, swelling, increased pain, fever, or pus in the following days.
For all medical emergencies, skip the wait and visit Phoenix ER & Medical Hospital to be helped immediately. Our highly trained staff takes pride in providing our community with the most effective and efficient care in a comfortable environment. We’re here to assist you 24/7, and our doors are open 365 days a year—including holidays.
Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Phoenix ER & Medical Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.
Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on Phoenix ER & Medical Hospital, or any of our concierge-level medical facilities to deliver the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
