Kids and Kitchen Hazards

Cooking shows are in. Chefs are today’s celebrities. The kitchen has replaced the living room as the center of activity for most families. Even if you don’t follow Emeril or Mario Batali, you and your offspring no doubt spend lots of time in the kitchen, even if it is just to microwave frozen dinners.

While the kitchen can be a wonderful place to gather as a family and share food, children end up in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices everyday from burns, cuts, and poisonings that have happened in the kitchen. Here is some information on four common injuries from kitchen mishaps:

Burns. Children get burned many different ways: Toddlers grab pan handles on the stove; The area around the stove may heat up when the burners are on, and kids may reach up and burn their hands on the metal; Infants and toddlers have been known to grab hot mugs of coffee when sitting in a parent’s lap.

Poisonings. Safety latches are available to lock kitchen cabinets, but it is easy to leave a door open when there is a lot going on. Toddlers are endlessly fascinated with the contents of these cabinets. Sometimes parents forget that a hazardous chemical is stored in a cabinet or another family member or housekeeper has moved an item.

Cuts. Knives are also magnets for grabby infants and busy toddlers. It only takes an instant for a damaging wound to open up. There are many other sharp objects to grab on a kitchen counter as well.

Choking. Small scraps of food or parts of utensils can easily fall to the floor, where a curious toddler may be lurking. Grapes, popcorn, carrot slices, or pieces of fruit can lodge in a toddler’s throat.

Preventing and Treating Kitchen Injuries

Kitchens tend to be the hub of activity as well as creativity, but where there is chaos, there may be accidents. Be vigilant and proactive in making your kitchen safe for infants and toddlers. Keep knives and other sharp objects out of children’s reach. Make sure to always close and latch cabinets that house dangerous objects or poisonous materials. Keep kids away from hot stoves and ovens, and teach them to be careful before grabbing mugs or dishes that may be hot from the oven. Try to pick up anything that falls on the floor quickly, before your child can get it into his mouth.

No matter how vigilant you are, though, accidents do happen. It is a good idea to take a CPR course so that you know what to do for bleeding, choking, and burns. A fire extinguisher and smoke alarms are a must. Key telephone numbers (in addition to 911) should be posted in the kitchen. You should also keep clean gauze and ice packs handy. Ipecac is no longer recommended for poisonings. The poison control center can advise you whether your child needs to go to the emergency room.

Any kitchen mishaps to report? Or, on a more positive note, have your children learned to make any delicious dishes?

Dr. Victoria McEvoy graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1975 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at HMS. She is the Medical Director and Chief of Pediatrics at Mass General West Medical Group. She has practiced pediatrics for almost thirty years. She has been married to Earl for thirty six years and raised four children. She currently enjoys writing, traveling, reading, almost all sports, and spending time with her two grandsons.

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