Safety At Home – Avoiding Accidents In The Kitchen

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The kitchen is considered by some to be the most used room in the home. Along with the amount of time spent there the probability of accidents is potentially high. These can be avoided if we look at preventative steps that can be taken to eliminate kitchen accidents. This guide contains some ideas to decrease the risk of accidental injury to yourself or your family.

The first thing anyone will notice about their kitchen is its layout. One of the most popular kitchen layouts is the L-shaped kitchen. This style allows for good foot traffic flow. It is recommended for a family or for those that entertain because tables and chairs can be included in this space. The Double L-Shaped Kitchen gives you tons of cabinet space as well as counter space. This layout is used for large kitchens with multiple cooks or larger families. The Island Kitchen is a trendy and very popular layout because it allows those inside to interact with guests while cooking. Getting the perfect kitchen layout requires some planning and thoughtful decision making. Do some research and set a goal for what you want. Remember to keep the safety of your household in mind.

The kitchen is a busy place and accidents can happen. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of both reported and non reported home and fire injuries in the US. A first aid kit and a fire extinguisher should be located in your kitchen near the cooking area. Check to make sure range hood filters are cleaned regularly. Most importantly, a smoke detector should be present in any kitchen area. Keep the foods you eat in your house safe by proper handling which prevents bacteria from growing to a level that can cause sickness. Don’t let food sit out on your counter. All uneaten foods should be refrigerated below 40 F in tightly covered containers. Every cook should keep their work surfaces clean and free from contamination. All spills on the floor should be cleaned up immediately. Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds and keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate to prevent cross-contamination.

Child safety should also be a priority in all kitchens. Cabinets and drawers cause a high rate of injuries to children. Drawers should have automatic closing components or locks that keep the drawer shut. Chemicals, medicine, and cleaning materials should be locked up. Emergency phone numbers should be near a phone in the kitchen. Also, the latch to the dishwasher should be locked at all times and it’s washing cycle should be run after the children go to bed. Glass-top stoves are a good choice because they have no open flame. Induction cooking surfaces stay cool to the touch, but are higher end and more costly. Store knives and other sharp utensils out of reach. A lot of child proofing should be up to the parents, but make sure that your kitchen designer takes children into account when planning a kitchen.

Many families gather in the kitchen to spend time together, but it can be one of the most hazardous rooms in the house if you don’t practice safe cooking behaviors. Almost everyone knows somebody who’s been injured in the kitchen. The kitchen is most times the heart of your home and having a safe kitchen grants peace of mind. Although its impossible to foresee every type of accident that might occur in the kitchen, there are certain accidents that we see over and over again. Often, these could have been prevented by taking appropriate safety measures.

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Source by Gerard Malouf Solicitor