Class: Nutrition and Wellness
Dates:
Kitchen Safety
Anticipatory Set: Give pre-test on kitchen safety
Most common of the kitchen accidents: chemical poisonings, cuts, burns and fires, and falls
You can prevent many accidents by properly using and caring for equipment, following good
safety practices, and keeping the kitchen clean
Preventing chemical poisonings
 Children are especially susceptible because household cleaners and products look like food
1. Do not rely on containers with safety closures
2. Read all warning labels
3. Keep all hazardous products in their original, clearly labeled containers
4. Keep medication out of the kitchen out of child’s reach – never refer to medication as candy
5. If the phone or doorbell rings while you are working with a hazardous product, take it with
you
6. Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly – pesticides can be poisonous – cover or
remove all utensils and food before using pesticides in your home
 Treatment – call a physician or poison control center – if on the label it suggests an antidote,
give it to the victim
Preventing Cuts
 Knives, sharp appliances, and broken glass cause the most kitchen cuts
1. Keep knives sharp – dull blades can slip and cause cuts – people tend to be more careless
with dull knives – wash and store knives separately from other utensils
2. Use knives properly – move the blade away from your body as you cut – NEVER point a
sharp object at another person
3. Do not try to catch a falling knife in midair – let it fall to the floor and then pick it up
4. Use a knife only for its intended purpose – do not use it to pry open cans or other containers
and do not use it as a screwdriver or a hammer
5. NEVER put fingers near beaters, blender blades, food processor blades, or disposals. Instead,
disconnect the appliance and use a nonmetal utensil to remove items that are stuck – if you
cannot dislodge it, call a repair person
6. When opening a can, dispose of the lid immediately
7. NEVER pick up broken glass with your bare hands – wear rubber gloves to pick up the larger
pieces and sweep up the smaller pieces into a dust pan and dispose immediately
8. NEVER try to strain out the glass if you have a broken jar when opening it
 Treatment – cover the wound with a sterile cloth or clean handkerchief. Apply firm pressure
to the wound – if the cut is minor, wash it with soap and water and apply an antiseptic
solution then bandage it with a sterile dressing. If it is severe, apply pressure and take the
victim to the emergency room or family doctor
Preventing burns and fires
 Scalding liquids, spattering grease, and hot cooking utensils cause most kitchen burns. The
majority of fires are due to malfunctioning electric appliances and carelessness around hot
surfaces and open flames
1. Use pot holders to handle hot utensils
2. Turn all pan handles inward to prevent accidental tipping
3. Open pan lids away from you to avoid steam burns
4. Do not let children play near the range or cook without your help
5. Turn off range and oven controls and disconnect small appliances when not in use
6. Follow manufacturers’ directions for use and care of appliances
7. Avoid using lightweight extension cords and multiple plug adapters
8. When working near the range wear tight fitted clothing – roll up sleeves
9. Do not hang towels, curtains, or other flammable materials near the range
10. Gas ranges – light the range before turning on the gas – if you smell gas, turn off the
controls, open a window, and call the gas company
11. Never leave a pan of grease unattended – it could burst into flames – DO NOT POUR
WATER ON A GREASE FIRE – use salt, baking soda, or a fire extinguisher
12. Clean grease from exhaust hoods to prevent grease fires
13. Keep a fire extinguisher handy
14. If your clothes catch on fire, don’t run – stop, drop, and roll
15. Install a smoke alarm in the kitchen
 Treating burns – place the burned area immediately under cold, running water. Do not apply
ointments or grease of any kind – do not break blisters that may form – call a physician
immediately if a burn is severe or if pain and redness persist.
Preventing Falls
 Most kitchen falls result from unsteady step stools and wet or cluttered floors
1. Do not stand on a chair or box to reach high places – use a ladder or sturdy step stool
2. Wait until a freshly mopped floor dries before walking across a room
3. Wipe up spills from floors immediately – make sure no residue remains
4. Do not let children leave their toys in the kitchen floor – remove shoes, boots, sports
equipment, and other objects from the kitchen traffic areas
5. Avoid throw rugs – if you must have one, use rugs with nonskid backings
 Treating falls – stop the bleeding if necessary, loosen clothing around the victim’s neck, if
you suspect a broken bone do not move victim unless absolutely necessary, do not give
victim any food or drink, make them comfortable, and call a physician as soon as possible
Preventing Electric Shock
 Faulty wiring, overloaded electrical outlets, and damaged appliances are the most common
causes of electric shock. Electrical hazards are also fire hazards
1. Never stand on a wet floor or work near a wet counter when using electric appliances
2. Do not touch any electric plugs, switches, or appliances with wet hands
3. Do not run electrical cords under rugs or carpeting
4. Do not use lightweight extension cords with small appliances
5. Do not overload outlets by plugging in several appliances to the same outlet
6. Place safety covers over unused electrical outlets to prevent children from sticking fingers or
objects into them
7. Unplug the toaster before trying to pry loose food that has become stuck
8. When you disconnect appliances, hold onto the plug, not the cord. Replace all cords and
plugs when they become worn
9. Do not use damaged appliances
 Treating electrical shock – immediately disconnect the appliance or turn off the power
causing the shock – DO NOT TOUCH THE VICTIM IF THEY ARE CONNECTED TO
THE POWER SOURCE – use a non-conducting material to pull the victim away (a rope, a
long piece of dry cloth, or a wooden pole) call for help and begin rescue breathing
Preventing choking
 Choking occurs when a piece of food becomes lodged in the throat and blocks the airway,
making it impossible for the victim to breath – a victim can die in four minutes if the airway
is not cleared
1. Chew food thoroughly before swallowing
2. Avoid talking and laughing when you have food in your mouth
3. Do not give children small, round pieces of food, such as slices of hot dogs or carrots – cut
slices in halves or quarters
Other ways to practice good kitchen safety
 Keep all kitchen cabinet drawers and doors closed
 Use products in aerosol cans carefully – do not use them next to a heat source or anyone who
is smoking – store them in a cool place – use them only in well ventilated areas
 Use pressure cookers safely – never open a pressure cooker before the pressure has gone
down to zero – the pressurized steam can rush out and cause a severe burn
Complete kitchen safety diagrams