First Aid in the Kitchen, Useful Tips for Common Cooking Accidents

What to do if you get hurt cooking? Here are some basic first aid in the kitchen tips for minor common kitchen accidents. Barring some serious injury, for which we encourage you to seek immediate medical attention, these basic solutions are all you will need to return the fun to the kitchen.

Basic first aid kitchen kit

We suggest you keep at home at least this basic first aid kit (affiliate). It will be useful not only for kitchen accidents but for any home accidents. These are the most basic products that you should have readily available at home:

• Alcohol or antiseptic wipes
• Antiseptic cream / antibiotic ointment
• Burn treatment ointment
• Bandage
• Band-aids

Common kitchen accidents

Minor knife cuts

The first thing you have to do: Try to stop the bleeding, and to accomplish that apply pressure on the cut.

Once the bleeding has stopped or diminished, disinfect the wound, you can do this with soap and water, alcohol, or peroxide. If you have any at home, apply an antiseptic cream, some brands contain substances that speed up the healing process and reduce scarring. The next step is to apply a bandage to protect the wound, but don't make it too tight; the wound needs to "breathe" to heal.

Seek medical help if: The bleeding doesn't stop, the cut goes beyond the skin, or simply looks bad enough. Remember your tetanus shot.

Minor cooking burns

The first thing you have to do: Put the affected part under cold running water to lower the temperature of the affected area and relieve the burning sensation.

Once the pain has subsided, keep the water running for some more time. Apply a burn-treatment ointment. This will speed up the healing process and reduce scarring. Cover the burn with a loose bandage. Never put butter or margarine on a burn; this will only make it worse.

If a frying pan catches fire, never douse it with water but smother the flames with a tight-fitting lid or an improvised fire blanket (you can use a kitchen towel).

Seek medical help if: More than the outer layer of the skin looks damaged, blisters appear, looks bad enough, or keeps hurting.

Poisoning

The first thing you have to do: Identify the poison (whenever possible). Remove the source.

If the poison is a manufactured product, see if the label has any instructions for these cases. Follow the instructions.

If the substance has spilled on the body or eyes, flush the substance with running water.

Whether or not you've identified the poison, call 911 (or your local emergency number) for instructions and assistance. Time is of the essence.

Seek medical help if: Always. Immediately.

FAQs

Thanks to my husband for revising this (he's trained in first aid). This is intended only as information; call your emergency number if you are unsure of what to do or seek emergency assistance. Better safe than sorry.

For more information, visit:

• CDC's Burns Fact Sheet (printable)
• Red Cross' website
• Poison Prevention Checklist - University of New Mexico (printable)