Last week we talked about the importance of knowing First Aid. This week we will talk about the types of Hazards that can be found in the kitchen and how to prevent them. Please share this information with your family and children. I cannot stress enough how important it is to take precautions in all that we do!

Food Poisoning

Bacteria can cause spoilage resulting in food poisoning if food is not maintained at proper temperatures. Be especially careful with raw meat, seafood, and foods containing eggs. To avoid these hazards, set your refrigerator to 40 degrees or less. Defrost foods in the refrigerator not on the counter. Let hot foods cool before storing in the refrigerator. Keep seafood on ice in the refrigerator. Preferably on top of the ice in a colander so the excess fluid will drain away from the food. Wash your hands before cooking. Wash your hands between raw meat and other items. Have 2 different cutting boards available, preferably in two different colors. Have one always be for cutting raw meat and the other for dealing with fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help keep down cross contamination.

Burns

The first rule is to teach your children to be responsible with fire. When they are little, teach them never to play with matches or lighters. As they get older, focus on how to use it safely. Not just in the kitchen but with any fires. AND everyone should know the stop, drop, and roll technique. Practice it often and have an escape plan ready for your home.

Every kitchen has potholders to prevent burns when moving around hot objects. BUT did you know that if your potholder is wet or damp ... you will get burned? I never thought of it but it makes sense to me. Remind your children that they should never play with matches or lighters. Teach toddlers to stay away from hot appliances and keep all children out of the kitchen when the stove is on. Never carry hot or boiling water over the head of someone else.

Spills and Falls

There are always preventable accidents that can happen that we must be on the lookout for. In my house, the accidents revolve around toys dragged in and left in the middle of the floor where they should not be. Keeping the floor hazard free is essential. Then there are the spills from the kids, inevitable but still dangerous. Teach the kids from a young age to take care of these themselves. Around 18 months, my boys would simply throw a towel over the spill. It acted like a warning beacon "accident bound to happen if you step here!" Avoid heavy waxing or glazed tiles. Both are problematic. Be especially careful with grease spills. Use flour or salt to soak up the grease, sweep up, then mop.

Glass

Lately, glass utensils have become very popular especially in modern designed kitchen. Do not purchase these! If they are heated improperly they can explode. I am not sure what improperly means but I, for one, do not want to find out! This was a new one to me!  Another thing to be weary of, do not set hot glass on something cold. It will break every time.

Gas & Electricity

This is one of those things that I never think about when I am in the kitchen. I rarely think about the safety precautions regarding these items but there are some to remember. Never use appliances around water or the sink. Make sure appliances are in good working order and up to code before plugging in and using. Make sure gas appliances are well ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home is a great idea. Personally, I believe every home should have at least one if not two or more. Avoid extension cords in the kitchen but if you have to use one make sure it is in good repair and not frayed. Remember not to overload the outlets either.

Chemicals

All kinds of chemicals can be found in a kitchen. Mainly these are used for cleaning and sanitizing purposes. Keep these away from food at all times. You should never use chemicals around food that is uncovered. Also, store them in a temperature-controlled, baby-proof area. If a chemical is swallowed call Poison Control immediately!!! Never mix different types of chemicals together. Propane, cleaning fluids, and other volatiles should never be stored in a kitchen where they could explode due to an accidental fire or high heat. This includes pesticides. Always wash your hands after using chemicals prior to touching your food. If you must store chemicals in the kitchen, store them under food stuffs that way if they leak they will not damage the food. Children should know not to eat or drink anything that a parent has not approved of prior. This includes medicines.

Attention

The number one reason for accidents and injuries in the kitchen is that the person in charge was not paying attention. Avoid using the telephone, computer, or running around doing other things will working in the kitchen. Most fires are started because someone walked away for a moment to do something else. Don't let this happen to you! Teach your children from the beginning that a kitchen deserves their respect, its a responsibility, and it requires all of their concentrated attention to keep accidents and injuries from occurring.

Another thing, keep items stored properly. Do not leave knifes and scissors laying out with little ones around. We already discussed the proper storing of chemicals. The more you can do to prevent an accident from happening in your kitchen the better!

After reviewing these rules with your children, try some of these activities:

• Spot the Hazards
• Home Hazard I Spy -- can you find the safety violations in your kitchen?
• Field Trip: Visit your local fire station to learn about fire prevention in the kitchen. What do you do if there is a grease fire? Other types of fires? Basic first aid? What is an emergency that can take place in the kitchen?
• Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Make a family escape plan
• Practice Roll-Playing 911 calls. 

Now, for most of us, these rules are no brainers. We have all heard them before and know them BUT our children do not. I so often take for granted the "easy stuff" and forget to teach the "first basic steps" before getting into the more complex areas. When we introduce our children to the joys of the kitchen, we need to start with safety first!

Have a great SAFE week!

Misty

Misty Rottmiller is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys in Arizona. Memories are best created in the kitchen is a refrain that is often heard around her home. Martha Stewart she is not! Misty often runs screaming from crafts and avoids most things that require creativity. Join her as she adventures through the kitchen sharing with you the basics, recipes, educational activities, and more. You can also visit her blog at www.homeschoolblogger.com/3boyz