Did you know that after the bathroom, the most dangerous room in the home is the kitchen! Kitchen accidents cause disabling injuries and fatalities and dangers lurk everywhere. Here are a few common hazards that could occur and ways to avoid and minimise such disasters.
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking. If you need to leave for even a short time, turn the burners off or use a timer as a reminder to avoid a fire or pots from burning.
- Keep anything that is flammable away from your stovetop. (oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper towels, plastic bags, foil food packaging, towels or curtains etc)
- Keep liquid away from hot oil; it will cause the oil to splatter and singe the skin.
- Turn pot and pan handles away from oneself when cooking so that they can’t be knocked over.
- Be careful when removing the pan cover to prevent the dreaded steam burn.
- Use a non-slip cutting board or put a damp paper towel or damp kitchen cloth under your cutting board to prevent slipping.
- Clean up spills immediately (water, oil, butter etc) – floors are slippery when wet. Keeping the kitchen floor clear of toys and other items and the use of non-slip rugs is important too.
- Avoid long or loose fitting sleeves that can catch a flame.
- Always unplug kitchen appliances from the plug points and avoid using a multi-plug to plug in multiple appliances at once.
- Do not use a box or other unstable surfaces to reach a high cupboard. Always use a sturdy chair or stool.
- Store knives, forks and other sharp objects neatly in a drawer. Avoid clutter as it makes it difficult to see sharp utensils and can cause cuts and bruises when trying to reach for one.
