The kitchen can be quite a risky place when it comes to potential accidents but we often forget about these risks. Safety in the kitchen is a necessary rule to establish, along with accident preventive measures. Review the following list of suggestions in your endeavour to prevent accidents in the kitchen.
Step One
Arrange your kitchen so that everything you need at a particular moment is at arm reach when needed. For example, keep oven mitts near your oven.Store knives and other sharp objects in a safe location. If you have children in the home, you need to designate a safe area for dangerous kitchen items. Make a habit of returning these items to their safe spot. Never leave knives on the counter or in reach of young children. It also goes without saying that ANY kitchen chemicals (liquitabs, Flash, Finish Quantum, etc.) should be kept out of reach from children,Store towels and paper products in locations away from the stove.
Step Two
Establish kitchen rules for your children. Set up some ground rules for when you are cooking to avoid kitchen accidents. You can either tell your children that they are not allowed in the kitchen when you are cooking or you can designate an area of the kitchen where children can be. Be consistent with your rules and your children will take you seriously.
Step Three
Keep counters clear of clutter. This is especially important if you are using the oven. You want a clear spot for the hot pan you remove from the oven. Do not balance a hot pan or baking sheet on top of other items on a cluttered counter. The pan or sheet may tip and spill the contents.
Step Four
Turn pot and pan handles in when cooking on the stove. This will ensure that pots are not accidentally knocked off the stove or pulled down by a young child. You may want to cook on the back burners whenever possible.
Step Five
Never cook with a young child in your arms or in a baby sling. Your child may pull a pot off the stove by the handle, touch a hot plate, or grab a knife. Make a point of keeping children out of the kitchen when you are cooking.
Step Six
Make a habit of looking around you before opening the oven. This is a kitchen safety precaution that gives you a moment to check that it is safe to open the oven, especially if you have children. Additionally, train your children not to come near the oven when it is open. If you stress the danger, then your children will take it seriously.