What safety hints and techniques are helpful in the kitchen?

Although you've probably had many years of cooking experience, it's always helpful to remind yourself of basic kitchen safety hints, such as the following:

• Always wash your hands before handling food;
• Remove loose-fitting or bulky jewelry;
• Make sure your hands are dry before handing electrical appliances or plugs;
• Store knives in a knife holder or with protective covers over the blades;
• Close cabinet doors and drawers immediately after use;
• Position the handles of pots and pans so that they do not extend over the front or side edges of the stove or over another burner;
• Don't lean on the stove or over the burners while you're cooking;
• Always use flame retardant elbow-length oven mitts when removing hot pans from the stovetop or oven;
• Have trivets and hot pads nearby when you cook;
• Stand off to the side when you open the oven door, not directly in front of it;
• Unplug electrical appliances when you're not using them;
• Clean up spills and breakage immediately.

Also be aware of these fire prevention tips for the kitchen:

• Tie long hair back and make sure that your clothing is not flammable or loose-fitting;
• Always check the stovetop surface or oven interior before cooking;
• Remove flammable and combustible items from stovetops, countertops, and storage areas above the stove;
• Clean the stovetop thoroughly to remove grease;
• Select a fire extinguisher that you can use independently. Store it between the cooking area and the exit;
• Keep a container filled with baking soda near the cooking area for small grease or electrical fires;
• Place a pot or pan on the burner before turning on the heat;
• Never leave the stove unattended while cooking.

Can you give me some tips for using a knife safely?

Try these safety hints and techniques to help you with safe and effective slicing:

• Always store knives in a holder or with the blades covered if you store them in a drawer.
• Always use a cutting board when you slice.
• Keep a tray nearby that organizes all materials required for the slicing task.
• Be sure to use a sharp knife, which is safer than a dull one.
• Cut or slice away from your body instead of toward yourself. Cut round vegetables in half to make a flat cutting edge.
• Make sure that the fingers on your free hand are clear of the blade at all times.
• It's possible to identify the sharp or slicing edge of the knife blade without touching it:
  • Since the slicing (and sharper) edge is usually curved, try rocking the knife blade forward and backward on the cutting board to determine when the slicing edge (which will rock) is facing downward.
  • If you place the straight (and duller) edge against the cutting board, the knife will be flush against the surface and will not rock.
• To avoid cutting your fingers, use a fork to hold food in place with your free (non-slicing) hand.
• Use a pizza cutter to slice a sandwich in half.
• A reversible black-and-white cutting board can provide contrast when slicing. For example, onions, potatoes, and yellow squash will show up more clearly on the black side, while the white side will provide greater contrast with tomatoes and green vegetables. You can find this reversible cutting board at Adaptive Technology Consulting, Inc. [link opens in new window]You can also find a variety of kitchen and household safety products in Sources of Products for Independent Living on this web site. [link opens in new window]

Fire Safety

Your family should have a fire escape plan that includes more than one way to exit your home or apartment in case of fire or other emergency. Each family member should know how to test the bedroom door for heat before opening it, as well as have a planned exit route and a meeting point after exiting the residence.

Fire Extinguishers

Your home should have at least one working fire extinguisher, and the kitchen is usually the best place to store it. Check the extinguisher at least once a year to make sure it still has adequate pressure. If you can't read the pressue indicator, bring it to any fire station for a free pressure check.

Fire extinguishers are available in a variety of formulas and types:

• Type "A" is for paper and wood fires
• Type "B" is for liquid and grease fires
• Type "C" is for electrical fires

Ideally, if you have only one type of extinguisher in the home, the combined "ABC" type will be effective for most home fires. The "BC" type is also a good choice for a kitchen, since most kitchen fires are caused by grease or an overheated electrical outlet.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Your home or apartment should have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Be sure that you can perform the following routine safety and maintenance tasks:

• Changing the batteries in your detectors
• Keeping extra batteries in your refrigerator
• Establishing an annual date on which to change the batteries. Many people use the daylight savings date, New Year's Eve, or their birthday. Use whatever date works best for you.

Electrical Sockets and Light Switches

Electrical sockets and light switches are often the same color as the surrounding walls; therefore, they can be difficult to locate if you have low vision. One solution is to install new face plates in a color that contrasts with the electrical outlets and/or light switches.

Another solution is to mark your electrical outlets with raised or color-contrasting dots that can help you locate the outlet and align the prongs of the plug with the slits in the outlet.

You can create your own raised dots by using spots of glue or bits of tape. Other types of raised marking materials, such as Hi-Marks, Spot-N-Line Pens, Touch Dots, and Maxi-Marks are available from specialty catalogs. See Find Labeling Products and Labeling and Marking for more information.

In addition, outlets are often located behind furniture and near the floor. One solution is to use a power strip or surge protector. Plug the power strip/surge protector into the outlet and place the power strip in an inconspicuous spot on an end table or other piece of furniture. You can also mark the outlets on the power strip with raised or color-contrasting dots to identify each plug.

Additional Resources for Home and Kitchen Safety

• If you would like additional instruction in slicing, food preparation, or home safety, you can contact a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. See Vision Rehabilitation Services on this web site for more information.
• Find Vision Rehabilitation Services
• Home Modifications
• Sources of Products for Independent Living
• Find Labeling Products
• Labeling and Marking