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Kitchen Safety

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Back to Home Safety Kitchen Safety   The kitchen, by its very nature, is by far the most dangerous room in a home. Take the room size, the hustle and bustle, the little precious ones who are constantly underfoot ( why are they always so hungry ? ), then take into account the appliances, utensils, and the what-nots dumped on the counter. Add to this your tension as yet another dinner deadline not being met. Baby screaming, fries burning, telephone ringing, neighbor at the door again borrowing an egg. Sound familiar ? All this makes for potential accidents. Let’s take a quick look around the kitchen and look for a few some potential dangerous items : Soaps, detergents, chemicals ( bleach, caustic soda, etc. ) stored under the sink. Traps , bait and sprays used in the war against creepers, crawlers, and vermin. Raw fruit and vegetables such as onions, garlic, hot peppers, cucumbers, grapes etc. Flatware ( yes, even plastic ) , matches, stove, highchair, hot oven door, Glasses, cans, mugs, etc. left on the edge of the counter.   * When cooking on the stove, always turn the pot handles towards the back. * Watch what you heat. Never leave cooking unattended (a “watched pot” does boil). * Store all sharps ( knives, forks, corkscrews, etc. ) and other dangerous utensils out of reach. *Put latches on cabinets that contain cleaning liquids, bleach and dishwasher detergent. * Install a safety latch on the oven door if your child is able to open it. * Keep electrical cords out of reach. When an appliance isn’t in use - unplug it. * Don't keep “ harmless “ vitamins on the kitchen table. Iron pills are the leading cause of poisoning deaths in children under 6. Medications don’t belong in the kitchen, the humidity breaks down it’s effectiveness. * Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge of tables and counters. Especially dangerous is hot drinks ona tablecloth, which a child can easily pull down. * If you're holding something hot, don't hold your child, too. * Flammable liquids ( turpentine et all ) have no business being in the kitchen. * NEVER cook with loose fitting clothing, they may catch fire. * Small pieces of fruit and vegetables can cause choking if swallowed by an infant, keep them out of reach. * Children should NEVER be allowed to use grinders, mixers, beaters, etc. * Infants should not be left in a highchair unattended - even “ for just a second “. * The microwave oven should be tested for radiation leaks every six months. * Toys don’t belong in the kitchen! * Remember, children have the knack of getting into / out of just where they don’t belong !   Nothing substitutes for supervision ! !   Boruch Rofeh Cholim 1999 Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material for non-commercial purposes as long as credit line is included.