Basic Rules of Kitchen Safety

BASIC RULES OF KITCHEN SAFETY

Cooking is fun, but kitchen safety is a priority. There are many types of equipment in the kitchen and environmental hazards that can be extremely dangerous. Sharp objects like knives, open fire by the oven, electrical appliances, and even bacteria around the kitchen.

Observing basic rules of kitchen safety is a good habit to develop. To pre-vent serious injuries or accidents: always pay attention to what you’re doing, adopt a plan for kitchen cleanliness, and have necessary safety equipment at your disposal.

·        Store knives in a wooden block or in a drawer

·        Never cook with loose clothes on and keep long hair tied back.

·        Never cook while wearing dangling jewellery

·        Keep pot holders nearby and use them

·        Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.

·        Don’t let temperature-sensitive foods sit out in the kitchen.

·        Wipe up spills immediately.

·        Separate raw meat and poultry from other items whenever you use or store them.

·        Wash your hands before handling food and after handling meat or poultry.

·        Get a fire extinguisher for the kitchen.

Follow these steps to keep cuts clean and prevent infections and scars.

·        Wash your hands. First, wash up with soap and water so you don’t get bac-teria into the cut and cause an infec-tion. If you’re on the go, use hand sanitizer.

·        Stop the bleeding. Put pressure on the cut with a gauze pad or clean cloth. Keep the pressure on for a few min-utes.

Clean the wound. Once you’ve stopped the bleeding, rinse the cut under cool running water or use a saline wound wash. Clean the area around the wound with soap and a wet washcloth. Don’t get soap in the cut, because it can irri-tate the skin. And don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which could irri-tate the cut.

·        Remove any dirt or debris. Use a pair of tweezers cleaned with alcohol to gently pick out any dirt, gravel, glass, or other material in the cut.

Generally a good antiseptic cream (sil-verex or burnol) should be kept handy. It is advisable to have a small first aid kit readily available in the kitchen.