Kitchen safety should be a priority. It may be a cosy place to be but how safe is it really!
Kitchen safety is of critical importance in every home, and particularly when there are children around. I know that they say that the kitchen is the “heart of the home”… but that is because Mom is supposed to be in there cooking up a storm. I am more inclined to consider it the “heart of the family stomach” and that it is a rather dangerous place to be, which is why husbands keep on sending their wives in there. They don’t have the courage of a woman.
The problem where kitchen safety is concerned, is that while the kitchen contain all the nice things in life – like food, they also contain a lot of nasty items. Like knives that cut, hot stoves that burn, a variety of chemical substances that poison and lots of lovely appliance cords that can electrocute.
You can never stop thinking about safety in the kitchen!
When my brother was a little fellow of about four, he wandered into the kitchen waving a coat hanger around. Unfortunately my mother had put a long handled pot of milk on the stove to boil. My brother used the coat hanger to hook the handle of the pot (He just wanted to see what was inside). The boiling milk poured onto his face, neck and chest. Fortunately our neighbor was a pharmacist and he came running at the sound of the screams. He also treated my brother three times a day for many weeks. Because of him, my brother has not a single scar today.
So many things for little people to investigate.
The following kitchen safety tips will help you keep your children a little safer:
- If possible, keep small children out of the kitchen when you are cooking.
- Do not carry, or drink anything hot whilst holding a child.
- Keep a wary look out for little people (and pets) while carrying hot foods or liquids, they are easy to trip over.
- Avoid carrying a small child while cooking.
- If using a microwave to heat baby’s bottle or food, make sure that the heat is distributed evenly and that it is not too hot before giving it to your infant
- A child is likely to pull on tablecloths and/or place-mats, thus overturning hot food or drinks. Where possible, do not use them.
- Ensure that all kitchen appliances are unplugged when not in use, and that the cords are placed well away from little hands. Shorten the cords if possible.
- Use the plates at the back of the stove, before using the ones at the front.
- Make sure that pot handles are turned away when placed on the stove or kitchen counter.
- Keep young children away from the front of ovens. Don’t open the oven door when children are close by.
- Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges.
- Keep your cutlery drawer locked – use a safety latch if necessary.
- Do not keep knives in a holder on the kitchen counter.
- Just because items are stored out of reach, does not mean an enterprising child cannot get to them. Install child Locks.
- Store all breakables – glasses, plates, bowls, out of reach, or use a safety latch
- Keep the sharp blades of blenders, food processors and other appliances out of reach in locked cupboards.
- Store your cleaning product containers, including washing powders and aerosol sprays in a top cupboard. Do not place cleaning supplies under the sink Never put non-food products that could cause poisoning into empty food jars or juice and cold-drink bottles
- If there is a the possibility that a product is poisonous, lock it out of reach and preferably out of site of your child
- If you are called away while using any chemical type products, move them out of reach immediately. While you are running to the aid of one child, another child might get at the products you left on the counter.
- Wipe up any water, food, and oil spills immediately. You cannot help another person, if you are sitting on the kitchen floor with a broken ankle.
- As soon as you have finished your ironing, pack the iron and ironing board away. Burns from the hot iron and injury from the iron falling onto a young head are not a good idea.
- Store plastic bags well out of reach. Teach children never to put plastic bags over their heads. Tie a knot in plastic bags before throwing them away.
We all want safe kitchens and I know it is not an easy task to practice safety in the kitchen. You need to be disciplined both with yourself and with your kids.
Oh yes, there will be slip-ups, there always are – I have had lots of them.
Actually, the best kitchen safety tip I could probably offer you is – Don’t have one! – live next to a restaurant that is open 24 hours a day and which sells inexpensive and nutritional food. Sounds just like home!
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