CHAPTER 5

KITCHEN SAFETY: PRECAUTIONS AND FIRST AID

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Identifying arcas of concern with kitchen safety and first aid,

Comparing first aid and precautionary measures for different
accidents or injuries in the kitchen. Enumerating various
guidelines for prevention and other safety issues in the
•
kitchen.

First Aid for Kitchen

Accidents
V our kitchen is a place where you can express your culinary crcativity. It's also a
place
I where you can get seriously hurt if you're not careful, Hot
stoves can burn, sharp knives can cut, and a fleck of hot pepper to
the eye can render you helpless.

There are 6 major areas of concern with respect to

kitchen safety: .
• Fires & Burns
• Cuts
 • Electric Shock
• Choking
• Falls
• Poisoning

The Basic First Aid Kit

Contents:
• Alcohol
• Antiseptic cream
• Burn treatment
ointment
• Bandage
• Band-aids

Figure 5.1: Basic First Aid

Kit
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First Aid for Common Kitchen Accidents

1. First Aid for Cuts Kitchen knives are sharp. If you don't pay attention
you could slip and slice your finem instead of that carrot.

Causcs
 • Knives
• Broken glass
• Sharp cooking
utensils

Figure 4.2: Causes of Kitchen

Cuts
First Aid
• Wash gently &
thoroughly.
• Apply antiseptic
ointment.
• Wrap with a bandage or
gauze.

5. Pofsoorlog

Figure 4.3: First Aid for Kitchen Cuts If you do get

cut while using a kitchen knife, here's how to treat the
wound:

• Clean it with soap and water. Apply pressure to the cut with a clean
cloth or bandage
for a few minutes to stop the bleeding. If you bleed through the
cloth, place another on
 on top of it.
• Use antibacterial ointment. If it's a minor wound, dab a little of this
over the cut.
Cover the area with a bandage or gauze pad and adhesive
tape.
• Go to the emergency room if the bleeding is severe or doesn't stop after
five to 20 minutes of direct pressure. If the cut is longer than one-half
inch, has jagged edges, becomes inflamed, or oozes fluid, you'll need to
see your doctor, too.

Precautions
• Keep knives
sharp.
• Wash separately, & store
appropriately.
• Pick up broken glass with a paper
towel.

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2. First Aid for
Burns
.

A pot of boiling water or soup can leave a nasty burn if

you're not careful. To prevent burns, turn pot handles toward the back of
the stove. Kecp kids safe by making sure they stay at least three feet
away from the stove or oven while you're cooking.
 Figure 4.4: Burn
Injuries
Causes

stea
m
& boiling
• Hot burners on the stovetop
• Oven
• Hot dishes
• Scalding from liquid

First Aid

• Cool as quickly as
possible.
• Cover with a dry
bandage.
• Don't break
blisters.
• Call doctor if burn is
extreme.

DO NOT USE OINTMENTS, SALVE, OR

BUTTER

Cover the burn with a sterile bandage

 Figure 4.5: First Aid for Kitchen Burn
Injuries
FIRST
AID

To treat burns, you first need to figure out which type

you have.
• First-degree burn. This involves just the top layer of skin. It looks red and
is painting
like sunburn. When you press on the burned arca, it turns
white.

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To treat it remove any clothing or jewelry that's ncar the burn, If your clothes
ar to it, don't remove them. Place the injured area under cool, running
water for 3 to 5

Apply an antibiotic ointrncnt -- never ice, oil, or butter -- to your

wound. Cover it can a clean bandaze. It should heal in 3 to 6 days,
. Second-degree burn. This is a deeper skin injury. It turns red, blisters,
swells, and hurts. To treat it soak the burned area in cool water for 15 to 30 minulcs.
Apply an antihisi cream to prevent infection. Cover the area with a sterile
dressing. Change the dressing cach day and check for signs of infection.
These include increased redness, swelling, pain, and pus. The wound will
take 2 to 3 weeks to heal. It'll also start to itch during this time, but don's
scratch it.

• Third-degree burn. This is a medical emergency. Cover the wound

in a cool, wet dressing and call 911 or head to the ncarest emergency room This type of
severe burn involves all layers of skin and will have whitc or blackened tissue on top. It
might not hurt much. That's because the nerves in the skin arc damaged.

Not sure how bad your bum is? See your

doctor right away if it:
• Involves your face, hands, feet, or genitals (use your judgment
for minor burns and cuts
on your hands - these are more common in the kitchen and often
aren't scrious).
• Is on or near a joint, such as your knce or
shoulder.
• Goes all the way around a part of your body (like
your arm or leg).
• Is longer than 3 inches across or goes deeply into
the skin.

Precautions

• Use pot
bolders.
• Tum pan handles toward the center of the stove.
• Tum store & oven off when
done.
• Koep small children away from
stove.

3. First Aid for Electric

Shock
Causes
. Worn cords on
appliances
• Ungrounded outlets
• Water in contact with
appliances
 Figure 4.6: Electrical
Hazards

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Precautions
• Replace worn
cords.
• Disconnect small appliance when
not in use.
• Disconnect appliance if it falls in the
water.
• Use outlet
covers.

First Aid
• Disconnect the power source
FIRST.
• Remove the injured person from the
power source.
• Administer CPR.
• Call for help.
• Treat burns. 4.
First Aid for
Slips, Trips and Falls
Causes
• Clutter & spills on the
floor
• Climbing on chairs & counter
tops
 • Loose clothing (i.e. shoe
laces)
Figure 4.7:
Slips Precautions
• Keep floors
clear.
• Wipe up spills
immediately.
• Use a step stool to reach high
places.
• Wear fitted clothing, take off
loose jewelry. First Aid
• Make sure you're not hurt before standing up. Getting up the wrong way
could make the
injury worse.
• Slowly rise to your hands
and knees.
• Try to crawl to a chair and pull yourself
up.
• If you can't get up on your own, yell for
help.
• If the area is swollen and you think you might have a fracture (broken bone),
try not to
move it. Call your doctor or go to the
emergency room. 5. First Aid for Choking
Causes

• Not chewing food

thoroughly
The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person
doesn't give
the signal, look for these
 indications:
• Inability to talk
• Difficulty breathing or noisy
breathing
• Squeaky sounds when trying to
breathe
• Cough, which may either be weak or
forceful
• Skin, lips and nails turning blue or
dusky
• Skin that is flushed, then turns pale or bluish in color
• Loss of consciousness
Figure 4.8: Choking
Hazard

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Precautions
• Chew food
thoroughly.
• Cut into very small pieces for
small children
• Avoid talking, laughing when you have food
in your mouth

First Aid

If the person is able to cough forcefully, the person should keep

coughing. If the persee is choking and can't talk, cry or laugh forcefully,
the American Red Cross recommends a "five-and-five" approach to
delivering first aid:

• Give 5 back blows. Stand to the side and just behind a choking
adult. For a child, knie
 down behind. Place one arm across the person's chest for support,
Bend the person one at the waist so that the upper body is parallel with
the ground. Deliver tive separate back blows between the person's
shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, Give 5 abdominal thrusts.
Perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).
Alternate between 5 blows and 5 thrusts until the blockage is
dislodged. The American Heart Association doesn't teach the back blow fechnique, only
the abdominal thrust procedures. It's OK not to use back blows if you
haven't learned the technique. Both approaches are acceptable.
To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on
someone else:
SO

Stand behind the person. Place one foot slightly in front of the other
for balance. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly. If a
child is choking, kneel down behind the child. Make a fist with one hand.
Position it slightly above the person's navel. Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press
hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person
up.
Perform between six and 10 abdominal thrusts until the blockage
is dislodged.
If you're the only rescuer, perform back blows and abdominal
thrusts before calling 911 or your local emergency number for help. If another person
If the person
is available, have that person call for help while you perform first aid.
becomes unconscious, perform standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) with chest compressions and rescue breaths.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself: First, if you're

alone and choking, call 911 or your local cmergency number immediately
Then, although you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to
yourself, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

Place a fist slightly above your navel. Grasd your fist with the other hand and bend over a
hard surface --- a countertop er chair will do. Shove your fist inward and
upward.
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To clear the airway of a pregnant woman or obese
person:
. Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich
maneuver, at the
base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs..
Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest,
with a quick
thrust.
· Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged.
If the person becomes
unconscious, follow the next
steps.

To clear the airway of an

unconscious person:
• Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor, arms to
the side.
Clear the airway. If a blockage is visible at the back of the
throat or high in the throat, reach a finger into the mouth and
sweep out the cause of the blockage. Don't try a finger sweep if you
can't see the object. Be careful not to push the food or object
deeper into the airway, which can happen easily in young
children. Begin CPR if the object remains lodged and the person
doesn't respond after you take the above measures. The chest
compressions used in CPR may dislodgc thc objcct. Remember to
recheck the mouth periodically.

To clear the airway of a choking infant

younger than age 1:
• Assume a seated position and hold the infant face down on your
forearm, which is
resting on your thigh. Support the infant's head and neck with your hand,
and place the head lower than the trunk.
Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back
using the heel of your hand. The combination of gravity and the back blows
should release the blocking object. Keep your fingers pointed up to avoid
hitting the infant in the back of the head. Turn the infant face up on your
forearm, resting on your thigh with the head lower than the trunk if the
infant still isn't breathing. Using two fingers placed at the center of the
infant's breastbone, give five quick chest compressions. Press down
about 1 1/2 inches, and let the chest rise again in between each
compression. Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts if breathing
doesn't resume. Call for emergency medical help. Begin infant CPR if one
of these techniques opens the airway but the infant doesn't resume
breathing. If the child is older than age 1 and conscious, give abdominal
thrusts only. Be careful not to use too much force to avoid damaging
ribs or internal organs.

Figure 4.9: abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)

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6. First Aid for Eye Injuries What should you do if you accidentally
shoot lemon juice straight into your eye? Or yet splashed with blcach
(or another toxic chemical) while cleaning up? Don't panic. Follow
these steps:

Lean over the sink and pour a gentle stream of lukewarm water
 over your eye. Keep flushing it out for up to 15 minutes. Cover your
other cyc to protect it.

If your eye is still irritated after you flush it out,

call for help.

Call help If:

.: You have a cut in your eye. Don't wash or apply
pressure to it.
• You feel like an object is stuck in your eye. Don't try to get it out,
rub it, or apply
pressure to
it.

7. First Aid for Poisoning Even normally safe kitchen

products can become deadly if they're swallowed.
That's why it's important to keep all household cleaners and
chemicals stored safely (keep them locked up, if possible) and out of
children's reach.

First Aid

• Call poison control and tell them what the substance was that was
inhaled or ingested.
• Follow their instructions.
If you or someone else accidentally swallows something poisonous, call for help If
possible, take the chemical product with you when you go to the
hospital so doctors will know exactly what was swallowed.

Causes
• Cleaning agents & kitchen
chemicals

Precautions
Figure 4.10: Poisoning
 Hazards
• Keep out of the reach of
children.
Hoe safety locks on cabinet
drawers.
• Don't mix kitchen chemicals.
• Keeping Kids Safe in the Kitchen.
ant them to help out in the kitchen, but you don't want them to act hurt.
Here's how
You want them to help out in the
kitchen h you can keep the littlest
chefs safe:

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You want them to help out in the kitchen, but you don't want them
to get hurt. Here's how you can keep the littlest chefs safe:

• Kocp them at least 3 feet away from all bubbling pots and pans on the
stove, and away
from the oven, Install safety gates to keep toddlers out of
harm's way.
• Don't let them use the stove, toaster oven, or microwave
without your help.
 • Store all knives and other sharp objects out of their
reach.
• Turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees so they can't
get burned.
• Use plastic bowls instead of glass so they won't shatter if
dropped.
• Teach your kids to avoid hot stoves and ovens and to stay away
from chemicals.
• Make sure that your smoke detectors are working. Keep a fire
extinguisher handy.
Other Safety Issues: Guidelines for
Prevention
• Do not wcar jewelry.
Kccp hair
restrained.
• Do not wear loose
clothing.
• Wear closcd-tocd
shocs.

First Aid for Other Safety

Issues
•

..
•
If jewelry gets caught in a small
appliance try to remove it to prevent
cutting the victim. Try to release hair
if caught in appliance. Smother hair
with a cloth if it catches fire.

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