# Kitchen safety: cuts, burns, oil fires

> A pot handle points towards the inside of the counter, never outwards. It is a simple habit that prevents a lot of accidents, especially with children around.

## The essentials

Three things can really hurt in a kitchen: the knife, the heat, and oil that catches fire. For each one there is a simple reflex that removes most of the risk, and a move to know if it happens anyway.

## The one thing to know

A pot handle points towards the inside of the counter, never outwards. It is a simple habit that prevents a lot of accidents, especially with children around.

## The landmarks

- The knife: the board steadied on a damp towel, fingers curled, the blade moving away from you. A knife never goes into a sink full of water, and it is stored blade towards the wall. A sharp knife slips less than a dull one.
- Burns: oven mitts or a dry towel to grab what is hot, because a wet towel conducts heat. Open a lid holding it away from you, steam burns.
- Oil catching fire: never put water on it. Turn off the heat and put a lid on the pan to smother the flame. Do not move the pan.
- The oven: the hot dish goes on a trivet, and the open oven door is a burning surface at child height.

## How long it takes

Nothing. These are reflexes, and they come fast.

## If it goes wrong

A cut: cold water, pressure with a clean cloth for a few minutes, then a plaster. If it is still bleeding after ten minutes, get medical help. In France call 15 or 18; in Canada and the United States, 911. A burn: under cold water, not icy, for ten to fifteen minutes, before anything else. Nothing greasy on it, no butter, no toothpaste. If the blister is bigger than the palm of your hand, or the burn is on the face, get help, same numbers.

## Make it tonight

The page "How to slice an onion": the claw grip and the steadied board are already half of kitchen safety.

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Source : disheazy, https://disheazy.com/bases/kitchen-safety