What to do in the event of common kitchen accidents
First of all: we are not medical professionals, and if you have an accident in the kitchen, you should always seek medical help if in doubt! But throughout all our hours behind the stove or at the BBQ, we’ve experienced or witnessed quite a few of the most common mishaps, and picked up this basic knowledge along the way:
Because whether you cook regularly and enjoy it, or actually hate doing it, there’s a good chance you’ve ended up cursing and slightly injured over the sink at some point. And to cut to the chase: that’s often exactly the right place to be…
Burns
Many burns sustained in the kitchen are first-degree burns, and although painful, they can generally be treated at home. They can be caused by touching a hot object, an open flame, steam or hot liquid. The first thing to do is hold the affected area under cool running water. Not ice-cold, and only hold the wound itself under the tap. Do this for ten minutes, so pull up a chair if you can sit down. Don’t put anything on it at all, because if you still need to see a doctor, they need to be able to examine the wound properly. And don’t put ice or an ice pack on it either.
If your skin has been in contact with an open flame for more than a few seconds, be sure to see a doctor immediately. If a blister forms: always leave it alone. If, after cooling the area under running water, it is red as if you’ve been sunburned but not much more serious, it will probably be fine. And remember: this is not the time to experiment like a herbalist. Don’t start messing around with half an onion, butter or a plant from the garden; keep it simple. Water. And if the burn covers a large area, such as your chest or leg, go straight to the doctor or Emergency Department.
Cuts
In serious cases, of course, seek medical help immediately, but what’s more likely is a mishap with the mandoline, or a knife that turns out to be too blunt or that you drop, or (I speak from experience) a wine glass that you break while polishing. First, look at where you’ve cut yourself and try to assess how deep the cut is and whether a tendon or nerve appears to be damaged. The location of the wound is important: in your palm, wrist or a knuckle, for example, tendons and nerves can be damaged even if the cut isn’t deep. In that case, you should see a doctor immediately. For most other ‘simple’ cuts, such as a knife cut on a finger, the same applies as with burns: first hold it under cool running water. Be sure to sit down now too; you don’t want to faint. After a while, the running water will most likely also have rinsed any dirt out of the wound, and hopefully the bleeding will have been reduced somewhat.
Next, make a cold compress and apply some pressure to the wound. After a minute, check whether the blood is flowing out less quickly and whether it isn’t a ‘wide’ cut. If there’s no improvement, see a doctor. You should always see a doctor for cuts caused by a food processor or immersion blender; there’s a good chance more tissue has been damaged than you can see at first, and here too, cuts to the hand can be more complex than they appear. So if moving hurts or areas become numb, they should be examined immediately.
Something in your eye
All kinds of things can get into your eyes, from cinnamon powder and chili powder to liquids. First of all: never rub your eyes. The most common mishaps, such as with lemon juice or hot powders, can be eased simply by rinsing with cool water. Try to hold your eyeball under the tap and gently pull your lower eyelid down first, then your upper eyelid up. In more serious cases, such as hot liquid or an object getting into your eye, naturally see a doctor immediately.
Also read:
- People share their dumbest kitchen blunders and it’s painfully funny
- 13 times these people should never be allowed in the kitchen again
- This woman washed her hands for days with a very special kind of soap
