Did you know that most kitchen burns could have been prevented?
Burns is one of the primary reasons that cooking is dangerous. Burns often happen in the kitchen, either because you’re cooking and something catches on fire or spills on you or just because you’re working near an active stove. Prevention is key to avoiding burns.
Here in this article, we have covered the top 10 proven methods on how to prevent burns in the kitchen. On its top, we have shown 6 potential causes why people fall victim to kitchen burn.
Types of Burn Injuries
There are three types of burn injuries: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns injuries are the most common type of burn. They are also the least serious type of burn.
First-degree burns only affect the outer layer of skin, the epidermis.
The skin will be red and painful, but there will not be any blistering or swelling.
First-degree burns usually heal within a week without any scarring.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns injuries are those in which the skin is damaged and the underlying tissue is exposed.
These burns are more serious than first-degree burns and can cause significant pain and swelling.
They often require medical attention and can take weeks or months to heal. If you have a second-degree burn, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn injury. They damage all layers of the skin and can cause permanent tissue damage.
Third-degree burns can be very painful and often require skin grafts and reconstructive surgery.
If you or someone you know has suffered a third-degree burn, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Read: How to prevent falls in the kitchen?
6 Frequent Causes Of Burns In The Kitchen
Knowing the causes of burn hazards in the kitchen is halfway to solving them. Here you go with the 6 most common causes that may cause kitchen burns.
Hot Liquids, Oils, Grease, and Steam
While cooking food, you and your staff are at risk of being burned. Many common causes of workplace burn injuries include grease, oil, and steam, as well as hot grills and soups. It’s not unusual for a worker to experience a serious burn, and the pressure to keep up with a busy schedule can lead to an accident.
Read: Ways to prevent accidents in the kitchen
Hot Cooking Surfaces and cookware
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned chef, you’ll need a hot cooking surface. These durable, heat-resistant devices are available in several different types, and they are perfect for use in the kitchen. Be aware of how hot your cookware is.
The typical temperature of a common kitchen item is 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
Faulty Electrical Wiring Can Cause Kitchen Burn
Faulty and older electrical wiring is dangerous as it can cause terrible burns in the kitchen. Good copper wire can last up to 100 years, but the insulation breaks down over time. In addition to this, some electrical wiring may have frayed cords and plugs.
If the electrical wiring in your kitchen is faulty, it can easily lead to a fire. Checking for loose wiring is an easy task, but it is best to have an electrician check it out for you if you have any concerns.
Improperly-Trained Staff
Restaurant workers are at risk for kitchen burn injuries. Cooks are particularly at risk for third-degree burns from hot oil, steam, and boiling soups. When food items are not properly maintained, they can spill hot oils or scald employees.
Insufficient training and unsanitary conditions can lead to an accidental burn or even a fatal hazard. So, proper training is the key for the fry cooks for preventing burns and scalds in the kitchen because of their fast-paced work environment.
Read: How to sanitize kitchen utensils?
Poorly Maintained Kitchen Equipment
Improperly maintained kitchen equipment can lead to a burn. Stoves and pressure cookers can also overheat, and the heating elements can burn out from repeated exposure to high temperatures. Check for damage on visible cords before using them. Make sure to change the plugs regularly and avoid handling hot liquids.
Always turn off any equipment before leaving it unattended. Ensure that employees have adequate ventilation and lighting in commercial kitchens.
Wrong Handle Position of the Cookware
The wrong handle position of the cookware causes burns. It is important to know the correct handle position when handling the cookware. If you leave the handle hanging, the result can be a disaster. This happens when you frantically cook and brush your hand against the pot or knife handle.
Read: types and causes of kitchen fires
10 Efficient Methods of How To Prevent Kitchen Burns
We have learned why we fall prey to burns in the kitchen. While that knowledge may make you aware of the potential reasons for the danger involved in the kitchen, ways to prevent burns in the kitchen are the ultimate safety.
Wearing Protective Gear Prevent
Many different types of protective gear will provide that extra layer of protection for your hands, like oven mitts, dish towels, pot holders, etc. The best way to protect yourself is by using a good pair of gloves and then using an oven mitt on top of them. This should be enough to keep you safe from burns while cooking.
Oven mitts can help with this as well. Gloves can help if you have sensitive skin or handle something very hot. If you’re not sure what kind of glove would work best for you, try different types until you find one that works best for you.
Avoid Touching The Stovetop
Burns can occur in a kitchen due to touching a too hot surface, such as a stovetop. Although it may seem like common sense to avoid touching the stovetop, this isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Often, it seems like we don’t have enough time to think about what we’re doing, and our body moves on its own.
For example, when I’m cooking dinner at home, my hands are usually covered with food, so they aren’t visible. However, sometimes I’ll accidentally touch the stovetop while reaching for another item. This could result in burns because your hand will be exposed to heat from the burner.
Keeping Away From The Hot Pan While Removing The Lid
One often overlooked but important safety rule in the kitchen is to never take off a hot lid without using the handle. This will prevent burns in the kitchen by keeping your hands away from the heated metal.
Carefully Draining Hot Pasta And Liquid
When preparing food with boiling water, such as pasta, boil the pot first before adding any ingredients. The steam coming from the boiling water can be very dangerous if you don’t properly use it. If your pots have a lid, make sure they’re tightly closed, so no steam escapes.
Also, never put anything directly into hot liquid without waiting until the liquid has cooled down slightly. This will prevent splatters of scalding liquids all over your countertops.
Not Mixing Hot Liquid In The Blender
One of the most common causes of burns is mixing hot liquid with something else, such as ice. If you want to avoid this, one easy way is not to mix your hot liquids and cold substances in a blender.
When using a blender for blending hot liquids, it’s best to wait until the mixture cools off before adding other ingredients or pouring into containers. You may also be able to put some ice cubes inside the container that holds your hot beverage so that they melt slowly while you blend.
Keeping Away From Hot Grease, Boiling Liquid
When cooking, always be wary of having hot grease or boiling liquid in the area where you are working. If there is an open flame nearby, use tongs or oven mitts to hold pots and pans over heat sources.
Also, when handling food with high-fat content such as butter, oil, bacon drippings, etc. Never carry something that is hot and use oven mitts to remove anything from the oven. Be sure to keep any such cooking surfaces away from children and pets who might find it tempting to come into contact with them.
Read: Ways to prevent grease fire
Keeping Hot Handle Turned Inward
One of the most common ways people are burned in the kitchen is through contact with sharp utensils, hot pans, or pots. So, you better keep your hot handle turned inward to avoid unwanted touch and getting burned.
Keeping Up With Maintenance
Burns are often caused by the careless mishandling of hot liquids, foods, or other heat sources. It is important to be aware of what your current environment consists of in order to prevent burns.
It is best to have a buddy system in place in the kitchen, so one person can work on cooking while the other handles are stirring. When working with hot liquids, pots, and pans, keep them away from the edge of the counter. If you don’t have a potholder or towel that will reach to grab a pot or pan, then use tongs to grab them.
Be Prepared For An Emergency
It’s no surprise that most people fear being burned in the kitchen. This is a natural fear, considering how quickly a burn can happen and the pain it causes. So, you should apply some strategies for being prepared for an emergency in the kitchen. They may come to your rescue while falling victim to an unwanted kitchen burn.
Planning Kitchen Layout
One factor that can significantly reduce the potential for injuries in the kitchen is planning the layout of storage, prep areas, and workstations. This reduces the need to carry heavy items long distances and reduces the time employees spend standing over potentially hot surfaces to make food.
If possible, have a professional designer or architect draw up plans showing how everything should be laid out. You may want to consider having an electrician install outlets at specific locations, so they are easy to reach with pots and pans on high shelves.
Create A Kid-Free Zone
One of the best ways to prevent burns in the kitchen is to create a kid-free zone. This can be done by designating a specific area in the kitchen that is off-limits to children. This area should be well away from the stove, oven, and other potential sources of heat. If possible, it should also have its own dedicated ventilation system to help keep the air clear and cool.
In addition to creating a kid-free zone, parents should also take care to never leave children unattended in the kitchen. Even if they are only gone for a minute, it only takes a moment for an accident to happen. If possible, parents should have someone else watch their children while they are cooking. If not, they should at least make sure that their children are not in the kitchen when they are cooking.
Keep Flammable Materials Out Of The Kitchen
It’s important to keep your cooking area free of flammable materials. This includes things like loose clothing, paper towels, and anything else that can easily catch fire.
Keep A Fire Extinguisher Nearby
When it comes to preventing burns in the kitchen, one of the best things you can do is keep a fire extinguisher nearby. This way, if a fire does break out, you’ll be able to put it out quickly and prevent any serious damage.
Of course, you should also take other precautions such as never leaving cooking food unattended and keeping flammable objects away from the stove. But having a fire extinguisher close at hand is always a good idea, just in case.
Wear Proper Clothing
The kitchen can be a dangerous place if you’re not careful. Whether you’re cooking on the stovetop, in the oven, or dealing with hot liquids, it’s important to wear the proper clothing to prevent burns.
Wearing long sleeves and pants made from a breathable, heat-resistant material is a good start. You should also avoid loose clothing that could catch fire, and tie back any long hair to prevent it from getting singed. In addition, always use oven mitts or gloves when handling hot items, and be careful not to touch anything hot without first checking to see if it’s safe.
By taking these precautions, you can help prevent burns in the kitchen.
General First Aid For Burns And Scalds
If you have suffered a burn or scald, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help ease the pain and promote healing.
For burns, hold the affected area under cool running water for at least five minutes. This will help to stop the burning process and ease the pain. You can then apply a cool, damp cloth to the area to help keep it cool. Avoid using ice, as this can further damage the skin.
For scalds, remove any clothing or jewelry from the affected area and hold it under cool running water for at least 10 minutes. This will help to soothe the pain and prevent the area from swelling. You can then apply a cool, damp cloth to the area.
If the burn or scald is on your face, be sure to seek medical attention immediately, as this can be a very serious injury.
The Importance of Maintaining Fire Prevention Equipment
Fire prevention equipment is critical in ensuring the safety of both commercial and residential buildings. This equipment includes fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and smoke detectors. Fire extinguishers are the first line of defense in case of a fire, and sprinklers can help contain a fire before it gets out of control. Smoke detectors are important in early detection of a fire, which can help save lives and property.
Fire prevention equipment is vital in any home, kitchen or workplace, and it is important to ensure that it is properly maintained. Fire extinguishers, for example, need to be regularly inspected and serviced to ensure that they will work properly in the event of a fire. Smoke detectors and other early warning systems are also crucial, and they need to be regularly tested to ensure that they are in good working order.
In addition to preventing fires, fire prevention equipment can also help to protect people and property in the event of a fire. This is why it is so important to ensure that it is properly maintained. By regularly inspecting and servicing fire prevention equipment, you can help to ensure that it will be there to protect people and property in the event of a fire.
Wrapping Up…
Now, we have been well aware of the causes of the kitchen burns and how to keep the danger in your favorite place at bay. These should suffice to answer your worries about preventing burns in the kitchen.
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