TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE IN THE KITCHEN - Ngoi

Tips to help you stay safe in the kitchen

Can you cook?

Everyone has been asked this question at least once in their life. And your response is either:

“Of course. I’m a very good cook.”

“Hmm, not too terrible. I can make simple meals.”

Or:

“Cooking? What’s that?”

Cooking is considered a form of art. So, it have got to be good cooks and bad cooks. However, kitchen accidents will not spare you, no matter how good you are. In this article, I want to share with you some tips on how to deal with it.

How to stay safe in the kitchen?

How to stay safe in the kitchen is something not only cooks but everyone must know. There’re always potential threats in the kitchen, accidents can happen to you when you least expect it.

That’s why, homemakers and especially cooks must always follow safety procedures in order to protect their lives as well as everyone else’s.

Burn

Getting burned is one of the most common accidents in

the kitchen. You can get burned from splattering hot oil, contact with hot food, or

the oven’s heat.

Prevention is better than cure. So, in order to reduce risk of burns, you should use

an apron as a protecting armor for your body. Especially for the areas around the chest and belly or the areas where your skin is soft. It can also help you stay clean.

When get burned, first thing you should do is use water to cool the wound for 10-15 minutes. Then rub the burned area with egg white several times. Do this for 2 or 3 days. This method is used by many. Burns treated with egg white heal faster than normal. It will also less likely to leave scars. Do not use tooth paste or fish sauce to treat burns. It can cause infection and make your burn heal slower.

Grease fire

Normally, oil is the most common cause of kitchen accidents. Not only do they give us burns, but they can also cause unwanted fire. Because oil is highly flammable, just one spill of it can be very dangerous. Especially when the flame blazes into your face or catches onto furniture.

That’s why, cooks must be attentive to their surroundings, keep flammable objects away from fire. Fire extinguisher is a must. A better idea is to keep baking soda within your reach. This powder can extinguish small fires effectively.

Cut wounds

Using blunt knives is even more dangerous than using sharp knives. For blunt knives require you to put in some amount of strength to cut. Thus, when the tool gets rusty, you will easily slip and cut your hand, especially if you are clumsy in the kitchen.

Sharp knives should be used instead for safety. Using the tools properly is the best way to avoid injuries. If you get cut, first you need to stay calm and confirm the position and severeness of the cut, then proceed to properly dress the wound.

If the cut is small and doesn’t bleed too much, apply first aid by cleaning the wound before touching it to reduce risk of infection. Take a damp cloth, dip it in soap and gently clean the area around the wound. Careful not to let the soap get into the cut, for it will cause irritation. Dry the wound with a clean cloth when done. Then apply band aid to protect the wound.

For deep cuts: Please note that: If blood is leaking or spurting out of the wound, you might have cut an artery. Apply pressure on the wound with a clean cloth or a piece of sterile gauze and quickly get to the emergency room. Do not try to apply tourniquet. If the cut goes through the skin, exposing fat and muscle, you’ll need to stich it. In that case, you need to get to the emergency room as soon as possible. If the cut only goes through the skin surface and doesn’t bleed too much, it can be treated at home.

Slipping

Water, food pieces spilling on the floor or a wet, slippery floor can cause you to slip.

Slipping in the house is dangerous, and even more so in the kitchen. Because that’s the place where you have to deal with fire and sharp tools.

Sometimes, you can spill something hot on yourself.And that’s just the risk you’ll have to face at home. When you work in a big restaurant, customers are the most important. Therefore, the biggest risk you’ll have to face is spilling wine or food on your customers. That will make your restaurant lose its reputation and get you in trouble.

That’s why, we must always follow safety procedures in workplace and in your very kitchen. Place a wet floor sign after cleaning to prevent accidents.

Regularly check your electrical appliances

Your kitchen is home to a lot of electrical appliances like coffee machine, blender, refrigerator, microwave,… Always make sure to check them before leaving the kitchen, especially your oven. Keep away inflammable objects, turn off your oven before leaving. To protect your house from accidents, always keep tab your appliances.

Doesn’t know how to use kitchen tools

There are many tools in the kitchen, from simple tools to modern tools. Some tools can cause unfortunate accidents if you don’t know how to use them like: blender, dish washer, vegetable cutter, microwave.

You should read the manual carefully before buying or in first use. If you’re still not sure, ask someone who has experiences with the device. Avoid using broken or rusty devices, bring them to service centers asap to ensure safety.

Gas leak: Gas leak is everyone’s fear. Simply because of the gas tank’s poor quality or not using it properly. A little advice: When you smell the gas, open the windows to vent it out and reduce the concentration of combustion air in the kitchen. Then immediately call the gas store’s staff for help. You must make sure there’s no gas leak before using the oven. Absolutely don’t touch anything that can spawn an electric spark. Don’t use any switches. Don’t cut any circuits, even those of cellphones. Close the tank’s valve immediately. Use a handheld fan or cardboard to dissipate the gas. If your electric fan is still on, leave them be. Open every window above the kitchen (as opposed horizontal ones) to create convection. Only open all of the doors once you can no longer smell the gas.

Above are some common kitchen accidents. Familiar, are they not? However, not everyone has the knowledge or composure to deal with them.

Take these helpful tips with you and always stay alert in the kitchen to keep yourself safe. After all, it is supposed to be the place where delicious, happy meals are made.

Don’t forget to share this with your friends and family if you find it helpful!