Friday, August 14, 2009

Home Survival - Part Two - Kitchen Tool Safety


Knives are the major tool found in any kitchen. From small paring knifes to large carving knives, there are a wide range of knives found in every kitchen. Knives which are dull can cause more accidents and be more dangerous than a sharp knife. Dull knives can slip and cause serious bodily injury if you experience difficulty when cutting and chopping food items. One small slip with a dull knife can do serious damage to your fingers or hands. Many kitchen accidents are knife related but can be avoided by following some simple rules. Here are a few simple tips for kitchen knife safety while working in the kitchen.

Knife Safety in the Kitchen

1. Always keep your kitchen blades properly sharpened.

2. Always make sure you use the right knife for the job.

3. Always keep the knife blade angled away from your body when in use.

4. Always hold the knife by the handle. Never hold a knife by the blade when cutting.

5. Always use a proper cutting surface when using knives in the kitchen. A good cutting board used properly will help to prevent many accidents.

6. Always hand wash and dry all of your kitchen knives separately. Never leave knifes in a sink full of soapy dishwater where they can’t be seen.

7. Always store your knives properly when not in use and separately from other kitchen tools.

8. Always remain alert when using a knife so that you can avoid a serious injury. Pay attention to what you are doing.

9. Never try to catch a knife which has fallen or been dropped. It’s a lot safer to pick up once it has come to a rest.

10. Always use care when using other kitchen tools that can also cause serious injury. Potato peelers, ice picks, and kitchen shears or scissors can all cause serious injuries if used improperly.

You can read Part One here: Home Survival - Part One - Kitchen Safety

Using a little common sense and following a few basic safety rules will help you avoid a needless accident in your kitchen.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

6 comments:

Bitmap said...

My wife was at a friend's house and was trying to help prepare a snack for the kids. The other woman's kitchen knives were so dull that my wife couldn't even cut a cucumber with any of them. I think she used her own pocket knife to do that task.

When the other woman came to our house and was helping out preparing the snacks she took up one of our kitchen knives that I keep sharp and she promptly cut herself badly enough that she had to give up working on the meal.

Another good rule: If you have to use someone else's knife check out how sharp it is before you start working with it so you'll know how it will respond.

Anonymous said...

Don't buy new knifes, keep the old ones sharp. I know people who have a drawer full of dull knifes they will just buy new instead of investing in a quality sharpener.

matthiasj
Kentucky Preppers Network

riverwalker said...

To: Bitmap

A friend asked to borrow my S&W folder. I warned him it was really sharp and then he proceeded to test it with his thumb. Very big mistake! He sliced his thumb almost to the bone and was bleeding like a stuck hog. There is no safety on a knife!

Like your other rule!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: matthiasj

Dull knifes do make good fishing weights. Can't think of much else they are good for otherwise.

RW

Joseph said...

And in the kitchen...wear shoes that cover your feet completely. It's inevitable, when you drop a sharp object in the kitchen, it's gonna drop point down on your foot. (Don't ask how I know this!)

riverwalker said...

To: Joseph

Thanks for bringing up that point. Unfortunately, many times it is the unprotected areas that are most likely to be injured if something goes haywire! Thanks.

RW

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