Safety in the kitchen

Posted on 2 September 2008

The kitchen is the heart of the home. But it is also the room in the house where most accidents happen. What should you look out for?

Poisonous substances and cleaning materials

Danger: Poisoning and burns

Prevention:

• Lock all potentially poisonous substances out of reach and out of sight of your child.
• Buy products with childproof packaging.
• Never store non-food products in empty food containers (eg paraffin in a jam jar).
• Install child locks on cupboards.
• Move chemicals out of reach if you are called away in the middle of using them.

Kettle
Danger: Burns
Prevention:

• Keep kettles and similar appliances (including cords) far back on working surfaces so that they cannot be pulled down.
• Shorten the cord.
• Don’t fill the kettle with more water than you need – it will make pouring boiling water easier.

Danger: Shock
Prevention:

• Always make sure that electrical appliances are correctly installed and safely earthed.

Toaster
Danger: Burns
Prevention:

• Shorten the cord.
• Keep toasters and similar appliances (including cords) far back on working surfaces so that they cannot be pulled down.

Food processor
Danger: Cuts
Prevention:

• Store the blade separately and out of reach.

Iron
Danger: Burns
Prevention:

• Keep iron out of reach of children.
• Shorten the cord.
• Pack away when not in use (even if the iron is cool, a child can be hurt if the iron falls on top of him).

Plastic bags
Danger: Choking or suffocation
Prevention:

• Store plastic bags out of reach of children.
• Tie a knot in the bag for safety.
• Teach children never to put plastic bags over their heads.

Stove
Danger: Burns
Prevention:

• Keep your child at a safe distance while you cook.
• Always use the back rings on the stove and turn pan handles away from the front of the stove.
• Keep young children away from the front of ovens or better still put up a protective barrier or grid in front of the stove.
• Don’t open the oven door when children are close by.

Drawers: Knives and other sharp objects
Danger: Cuts
Prevention:

• Store knives and other sharp objects out of reach.

Hot drinks

Danger: Burns

Prevention:

• Never drink hot tea or coffee with a young baby or child on your lap.
• Make sure your child can’t reach your hot coffee or tea and keep tea and coffee pots out of reach.

Fridge

Danger: Poisoning
Prevention:

• Certain items stored in a fridge can be dangerous to children (e.g. alcohol, medicine). Lock your fridge.

Washing machine

Danger: Burns

Prevention:

• Supervise children when washing machine is in use.

High chair

Danger: Falls

Prevention:

• Use a high chair with a full shoulder harness.

Dishwasher

Danger: Poisoning
Prevention:

• Only add detergent just before you want to use the dishwasher. Make sure it is empty when you are finished.

Danger: Cuts
Prevention:

• Pack knives and forks upside down in the cutlery tray.
• Always keep the door closed

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.