Cooking is such a fun and productive hobby to get into, but it does come with some risks! Luckily, I’m here to help keep you safe in the kitchen.
When you first start cooking, make sure that you are dressed appropriately. Wear closed toed shoes so that if you drop anything hot or sharp, your feet have some protection. Keep long hair tied back to stop it falling in the food - this is more of a cleanliness point than a safety tip - but hair falling in the toaster also holds an electrocution risk. Lastly, before you begin, WASH YOUR HANDS! Bacteria on your hands can make the people who eat your food very ill, so make sure your hands are clean. Be sure to cover any cuts with plasters to prevent further spread of bacteria, as well as stopping cuts from becoming sore from acidic lemon and tomato juice entering the wound.
While you are cooking there are some more things you can do to prevent injuries. Keep your surfaces uncluttered by putting away ingredients as you use them, clean any spills as they occur to prevent a slip hazard and if you have a pan on the stove, turn the handle to the side so that you don’t accidentally knock it over and so that small children don’t reach up and grab it. Do not leave anything you are cooking unattended to prevent it burning, boiling over or starting a fire. This next point is fairly obvious – if a pan or oven dish is hot, pick it up with oven gloves, not bare hands. Also when you open the oven beware of hot steam, which can hurt and will fog up your glasses if you wear them.
Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen. If you do get burnt, immediately run the affected area under cold water for at least ten minutes. If there is clothing or anything else stuck to the burn, do not remove it and seek medical attention. If you have a cut, press firmly on it with your hand or an absorbent tea towel or tissue and hold the cut up in the air to reduce the bleeding. If you start to feel light headed, lie down on the floor and rest your legs on a chair so more blood travels to your head. Call a friend or family member to keep an eye on you and fetch you a glass of water and a sugary snack. If a fire starts, cover it with a damp tea towel, or if the fire is only inside a pot then put a lid on it. The important thing is to starve the flames of oxygen while keeping yourself out of the fire.
Hopefully, none of this will happen to you. Just make sure you take precautions and stay calm if you do get hurt! Most of the injuries that occur in the kitchen are fairly minor, with higher risk for things like deep frying. If you stay aware of your surroundings and are careful with your equipment, there is no reason why you should get hurt.
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