Playing it Safe in the Kitchen: Preventing and Treating Thermal Burns

Last week, my daughter and I had a scary experience that made me want to write a post about burns and safety in the kitchen. When it happened, I knew very little about burns and now I know more than I ever thought I needed to. Seconds count when burns occur, so getting information before you need it is valuable. When in doubt, seek professional help or call 911. We did.

It was early in the morning and Olivia, my three year old, and I were still in our pajamas. Like many other moms I know, I was multi-tasking while making a pot of lentils: holding Olivia while I tried to adjust the lid on the pressure-cooker, which didn’t seem to be working quite right. Suddenly the lid, which was more pressurized than I had realized, popped off and Olivia and I were splashed with boiling water and steam.

Luckily, my body was mostly between her and the exploding pot but Olivia still received a pretty bad 2nd degree burn on one of her knees.  I also got 2nd degree burns and blisters on my torso, thigh and my right inner arm. I share this story because I know how often we busy parents cook with our kids and how eager our children are to help with cooking and preparing food.

It would be easy to condemn pressure-cookers (and many people have!) because of horror stories about the old-fashioned types, but the new ones are very safe, as long as they are both functioning properly and used correctly. I have been using pressure-cookers for nearly 15 years and am quite competent at using them, but accidents can happen, even with expert skill (just think of the number of carpenters who are missing digits). So here are some safety tips to help younger children and parents stay safe while cooking:

• Always have your hands free and children at a safe distance (or out of the kitchen) when working at the stove. Involve children in stirring, measuring, and kneading instead.
• Cook on back burners when children are present.
• Make sure pot handles are turned inward so that they can’t be pulled down from below.
• Explain that hot things like pans, casserole dishes, toasters, stoves, oven doors, etc. are never to be touched.
• When your children are helping, be sure your focus is on them.
• Slow down. Do less. If you’re in a rush, do it yourself and plan another time to work on a kitchen project together.

Specific safety tips for using pressure cookers:

• Before you use your pressure cooker, check all of the parts to be sure they are clean, unclogged, and in proper position.
• Every year or so, perform regular maintenance to be sure rubber gaskets and seals are all in good condition.
• After cooking and when you are ready to open the pressure-cooker, always move the entire cooker into the sink, bring down pressure completely by running under cold water until the gauge drops, and then open the lid away from your body to prevent steam burns.
• Do extra research for more details and specifications.

If a small burn does occur, follow these first aid burn management guidelines. Seek professional help or call 911 for more serious burns or if you have any questions at all. A few tips:

• Immediately stop the burn by applying cold water to the affected area. Be sure to keep the rest of the body warm to prevent hypothermia.
• It’s best not to use ice since it can cause further damage to the skin by freezing. Continue to cool the burn with cold water.
• Never apply oils or ointments to a new burn.
• If there is broken skin, after it has cooled off (several hours) and ready to wrap, apply antibiotic/pain relief ointment, keep the wound covered and moist with a gel pad made for burns, since these types of pads won’t stick to tender skin. This will speed recovery.
• Alternative treatments include a blend of St. John’s Wort, Calendula, and Lavender oils as well as homeopathic remedies.

There are so many joys that can be experienced through sharing food-making with our families. Let’s keep it fun and enjoyable by staying mindful of safety!