Cooking for the holidays? Get the word on wise kitchen practices
10:16 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Most common kitchen-related injury that is reported to Safe Kids Kansas Outreach is skull burns in children under 4.
That's from steam and hot water, said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas Outreach Coordinator.
What parents might not realize is young people's susceptibility to burns.
"Kids actually have thinner skin than adults," Sage said. "So they actually have more severe burns at a lower temperature."
A small child can receive a third-degree burn after just three seconds of exposure to 140 degree water, she said.
Tasks by age
Cherie Sage with Safe Kinds Kansas says children should be given cooking tasks by age. Watch this video on kids and kitchen safety. And you can get the basics here:
- Don't overestimate your child's abilities
- Children over age 5 can stir ingredients together, rinse foods under cold water and use a cookie cutter.
- Children over the age of 10 can squeeze garlic from a press and use electrical kitchen appliances such as blenders, toasters and microwaves with adult supervision.
- Kids 12 and older can chop or slice with a paring knife, turn stoves on and off, peel vegetables and use electric can openers. Adult supervision recommended.
Sage passes on these tips to help keep children safe.
- Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables. Be especially careful around tablecloths; children can pull hot dishes down onto themselves.
- Cook on back burners whenever possible, and turn all handles toward the back of the stove.
- Never leave a hot stove unattended. (Unattended food on the stove is the number one cause of home fires.)
- Never hold a child while cooking or carrying hot items.
- Don't allow loose-fitting clothing in the kitchen.
- Tie up the electrical cords of small appliances. A toddler playing with a dangling cord can pull a toaster or microwave down from a countertop.
A common baking hazard we should be cautious of is quite tasty. Certain extracts have a high alcohol content, up to 90 percent.
"It's very important this time of year -- as it is any type of year -- to make sure that you have the poison control number posted very near every phone in your home," Sage said.
That number is 1-800-222-1222.
For more information about Safe Kids Kansas call (785) 296-0351 or surf over to KDHEks.gov/safekids.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)