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Many first-time chefs will step into the kitchen on Thursday as the coronavirus evolves around typical Thanksgiving traditions and celebrations, but that doesn’t mean it has to end in injury-riddled disaster. Even if you consider yourself to be an expert chef, there are some precautions you can take to help keep you and your loved ones safe in the kitchen this holiday season.
Begin by familiarizing yourself with general safety guidelines for hot liquids, pots and pans. For example, don’t place pots of hot food or liquid on the floor, especially if there are children in the house, Dr. Nicole Bernal, medical director of burns services at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
She also advised against putting hot liquids near the edge of the table or within easy reach of toddlers and babies, as this can cause burns or serious injury.
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“Water heated in a microwave can cause a third degree burn after five seconds of exposure,” Bernal told Fox News. “Soups and sauces can cause a more severe burn when spilled, as the food components retain heat and sit on the skin’s surface, causing a deeper burn.”
To this end, the placement of pots and pans during cooking can also play a role in maintaining safety in the kitchen.
Handling hot items like pots or pans should always be done wearing protective gloves or mittens instead of a kitchen towel, Bernal said.
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“It’s important to remember to turn the long handles on pots and pans inward,” Bernal said. “When they hang over the edge, they can easily be touched or caught on clothing, causing hot food to spill. Keep a large lid near the stove if cooking with oil. If there is a fire, put the lid on the pan to extinguish [the] shoot quickly. Do not attempt to lift or move a pan of burning oil. “
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And for those who choose to fry their turkey this year, remember to put the fryer outside, not in the garage or inside any other part of the house, “and never put a frozen turkey in a deep fryer, ”she says.
Handling hot items like pots or pans should always be done wearing protective gloves or mittens instead of a tea towel.
“Heat transfers easily through a towel and a loose towel can catch fire if it comes near a gas burner or oven coil,” Bernal said.
Opening an oven should also be done with care. It’s important to make sure the area is free of children, pets, or any other unsuspecting guests who could be injured while the oven door is open and unattended, she said.
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And even with extra measures, mistakes and accidents will happen in kitchens across the country, but there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage. It is also important to know what signs to look for if the burn requires medical attention.
“If you have a burn, remove clothing and jewelry from the area and run under cold running water for 5 to 10 minutes,” Bernal said. “Do not place in ice water or apply ice, it will decrease blood flow to injured areas and may lead to third degree burn, which is the deepest type of burn. It also makes the burn more painful when the area is removed from the ice water and blood flow returns to the area.
If the skin is just red and sore with no blisters, it is likely a first degree burn and can be treated with gauze and ibuprofen to reduce inflammation.
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However, if the affected skin begins to peel or blister, the injury is a second or third degree burn and should be looked at by a doctor, Bernal said. It is important to remove clothing and jewelry and run the area under cold water, but don’t pop or remove the blister without first talking to a doctor, she said. At this point, a doctor can give you instructions on daily wound care to prevent infection.
“If the burnt areas of skin show blisters or peeling and [are] larger than the palm of your hand, call your doctor to have it evaluated, ”she says. “If the burnt area that is blistering or peeling is larger than four of your hands, go to the emergency room. Cover the wound with a clean bandage and antibiotic ointment if you have [one] available. Do not put household items on the burns like mustard, egg white, toothpaste or honey. This can make it difficult to examine the burn and can be very painful to wash off.
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