Avoiding Accidents In The Kitchen


Most people are in the kitchen at sometime of the day, opening a can, turning on the coffee, or putting something in the microwave. With the mix of electricity, water, sharp utensils, gas, and cleaning chemicals it is no surprise there are mishaps. Avoiding accidents is one thing that all households benefit from.

Keep your mind on what you are doing and be careful. Mishaps occur when people use sharp objects and work around heat frantically. Slow down to avoid spills or grease spatter that will result in falls. Pay attention to what you are doing while using knives to chop vegetables or cut meat.

When reaching for items on top of cabinets or on the top shelf, do not use a chair. They tip or fall and can be dangerous for whomever is standing on them. Use a step ladder. There are specially made ones for the kitchen and are perfect for safely retrieving items up high.

The handles on pots and pans need to always be turned inward on the stove top. It is easy for a sleeve or bare arm to tip or pull a pot full of hot liquid or a pan full of hot grease down onto a person or bystander. Also, do not leave the pot holder or towel on the lid of a cooking pot. The fabric will get hot before you realize it and you may burn your hand when you grab it.

Loose clothing is also a hazard around an open flame or electric burner on a stove top. Roll sleeves up, better yet put on something else that will not hang close to the heat. Some fabrics are highly flammable and will burst into flames when hot enough. Hair will also ignite, so pull it back or put into a bun on top of your head.

Sometimes even the most cautious chef will have a fire. Every kitchen should have a small fire extinguisher for just this reason. If you do not have one, baking soda will smother a small fire as will covering it with the lid of the pan. Never use water as it will only spread the fire.

If you are in an accident and are injured, check out Denver accident attorneys to get help about knowing what your next steps are. You can also learn tips for avoiding car accidents.