Prevent Accidents in the Kitchen

The kitchen is a place of many potential accidents, but since we frequent it on regular basis, we often forget how dangerous it can be. Accidents can be the result of poor kitchen design and maintenance or through errors made while cooking. Whatever the cause, accidents can lead to serious injury.

Steps

Maintaining a Safe Kitchen

1. Keep your kitchen clean. This will prevent kitchen injuries and give you the space to work when needed.
   • Clean your stove and oven after use. Debris on burners or in the oven can catch fire, especially grease and fat. Just make sure you wait until they have cooled. Do not wipe a burner while it is on or still hot.
   • Clean up spills. Liquids on the floor can cause you to slip and fall. This is never good, but can be even worse if you're carrying food or a hot pot. If you are in the middle of something, and can't clean it up right away, throw a towel onto the spot to remind you to get to it as soon as you can.
2. Keep counters clear of clutter. Put away dishes and utensils after you are done with them and they have been cleaned. You should always have enough room on your stove and counters to do what you need for cooking, and you don't need items in the way, or falling off counters.
3. Sharpen your knives regularly. Because they don't cut as well, dull knives are more likely to slip and slice you. Keep your cutting knives sharp with a sharpening stick or whetstone.
4. Store dangerous objects in a safe location. If you have children in the home, you need to designate a safe area for dangerous kitchen items. A knife block is safer for your children, and you, than storing them in a drawer. Make a habit of returning these items to their safe spot and never leave these items in reach of young children.
   • Put heavy equipment on lower shelves. You don't want to worry about them falling down or breaking your shelves.
5. Keep your glass cookware safe. Don't move it between temperature extremes, such as from the freezer to the oven. Don't add liquid after the dish has gotten hot, and if it is cracked or chipped, you should throw it away.
6. Keep a first aid kit handy. It should include band-aids, antibiotic ointment, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and aspirin. You never know when you might need it, and it's always better to be prepared.

Staying Safe While Cooking

1. Stay in the kitchen. If you are frying, grilling, broiling, or doing anything else on your stove, you should always remain in the kitchen to keep an eye on things.
2. Avoid distractions. Don't try to do other things while you are cooking. Your attention should be completely on what you are trying to do, especially if it involves heat and sharp objects. Stay in the kitchen, and off the phone. Using a timer can help, especially if you are worried something might distract you from your cooking
3. Establish kitchen rules if you have children. Set up some ground rules for when you are cooking to avoid accidents. You can either tell your children that they are not allowed in the kitchen when you are cooking or you can designate an area of the kitchen where children can be. Be consistent with your rules and your children will take you seriously.
4. Wear proper clothing. This doesn't mean pads or a body suit, but making sure you limit exposed skin to prevent against splashing., and clothing like shirts, pants, and socks to protect the rest of you. Avoid loose sleeves or jewelry, which will get in the way.
5. Use your pots properly. You will use pots regularly when cooking. If you are not careful, they can also cause accidents from drops, spills, and burns.
   • Use the right size pot. If you put too much food into a pot, it can overflow, creating both a mess and the potential for fire or spills. Most food containers have a maximum capacity.
   • Keep lids near to pots and pans in use. If you have a grease fire, or what you are cooking otherwise catches fire, you can put out the fire by covering the pan with the available lid and turning off the stove.
   • Turn pot and pan handles in when cooking on the stove. This will ensure that pots are not accidentally knocked off the stove or pulled down by a young child. You may want to cook on the back burners whenever possible.
   • Open hot pots away from your face. Escaping steam can burn fairly easily, so don't put your face right over a pot when you take off the lid.
6. Use oven mitts. These should be proper mitts with insulation, and not a dishrag. Mitts are a better choice than pot holders for carrying things because they give you better grip. You should always wear something over your hands to protect from burning when carrying hot pots or pans.
   • Mitts will not work properly if wet or worn out. Make sure your mitts are dry and still have their insulation before using. If they've worn out, you can easily burn your hands.
7. Use a sieve or colander for straining. When pouring hot water out of a pot, using the top to hold in what you are cooking can release steam on your face and hands. This can cause burning, and make you drop the pot as well. Use a strainer for vegetables, pasta, and anything else that requires draining boiling water.
8. Keep flammable objects away from the stove. This includes towels (both cloth and paper), potholders, food packaging, or anything else that might catch on fire.
9. Be careful when using the microwave. Always let food cool for a minute or two after running the microwave, and be careful when tasting food, as microwaves can heat things unevenly, creating hot spots. Remove covering very carefully, as escaping steam can burn.

Designing a Safer Kitchen

1. Give yourself enough storage space. Clutter is dangerous in a kitchen, so you want to make sure there is enough room to store all of your cooking equipment when you aren't using it. If you don't have enough storage space, you may need to create more, or get rid of unnecessary items.
2. Get good lighting. A well-lit kitchen will help you to see what you are working with. It can also keep the area cheerful and welcoming. Make sure your lighting fixtures don't produce glare or shadows.
3. Install a slip-resistant floor. Polished marble is very slippery, and can be dangerous. Instead, wood, rubber, cork, or slate are all better for a kitchen. You should also consider a non-slip mat, especially in front of the sink.
4. Regulate your water temperature. Make sure your water temperature is not set too high to avoid scalding and burns. A temperature between 120 and 125 degrees should be high enough for what you need, but not too hot that you will get burned. You can also install anti-scald devices on your faucets to prevent the water from getting too hot.
5. Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Since many fires start in the kitchen, get a fire extinguisher. It should be stored somewhere away from stoves and ovens, as that will be where you will most likely need it. You don't want the flames to prevent you from getting to the extinguisher.
   • Make sure you read the instructions when you buy the extinguisher. Don't wait until you have a fire in the kitchen before you read the instruction on how to use it.

Tips

• If you get burned, run the burned area under cool running water. Do not use ice. If your skin starts to peel off, that could be a more serious injury, and you should go to a doctor immediately.

Related Articles

• Keep Your Kitchen Clean and Safe
• Prevent Household Appliance Fires
• Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires
• Prevent Kitchen Burns

Sources and Citations

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