Injuries or accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, whether in the workplace or at home. These injuries (in this scope they include minor injuries likely to occur in a kitchen environment) are possibly preventable, and where they cannot be prevented, they can be managed effectively.
Below are practical measures that must be observed to prevent or at least minimize: cuts, falls, burns and sprains. And where it occurs, some first aid measures (treatments).
Cuts: Always keep knives and use the right knife for the right job.
– Take precautions with sharp instruments; keep your fingers and other parts of your body away from the blade (sharp edge) or tip.
– Keep the shield on the sharp edges of tools and when not in use, store it in a safe place. Never leave the knife loose with other kitchen implements in a drawer.
– When cutting or chopping, be sure to do it not on a stainless steel table, not even on your hand, but on a board, and away from your body.
– Place a damp cloth under the tabletop where the tabletop slips and never try to catch a dropped knife.
– Never play with a knife. If you pass a knife to another person, keep it pointed at the floor and not up.
– Clean the knife on the blunt side.
First Aid Treatment:
In the case of a minor cut, rinse the wound with clean running water or wash with clean water with an antiseptic such as Dettol or Salvon until the wound is clean, then put on a protective glove to prevent contamination.
Falls:
– Clean and dry the floor. The floor is often slippery when wet or when grease, debris, soap splashes and falls or when nylon papers make the floor dirty.
– Wear non-slip shoes. Let your shoes have a good grip on the ground.
– Watch where you walk. Avoid carrying large items, as this could block your view and cause you to lose your balance.
– Be sure to clear your runway of boxes, equipment, hoses and cables, etc.
– Keep your mind on what you are doing. Walk purposefully, but don’t run.
Tension – This means pulling the muscle incorrectly or too suddenly, whereby the muscle gives way. This could be very painful as it can cause damage to the muscle. A strain in a place like the stomach or chest could cause the inner lining to rupture, which can cause a hernia that may require surgery. So
– Do not lift heavy objects without help. Use the cart instead.
– Bend the knees, not the waist. Keep your back straight.
– Bring it, don’t stretch for it.
– Don’t brag about your strength. Work gradually, don’t do it once. Lift from the floor to the chair and then to the counter.
First aid treatment for falls and sprains
Make the injured as comfortable as possible, apply cold compresses (ice on a cloth). If you have any doubt about the injury, treat it as a fracture.
burn prevention
Unless you play it safe, burns can occur when working with any form of heat.
So watch out for:
– Bare flame near your clothing or towel, electric heat near any part of your body, oil that is overfried and too hot, may burst into flame.
– Boiling water too close to the top of your kettle or saucepan can boil over and splatter.
– Do not lift a pan, pot or plate without checking the temperature.
– Keep papers, plastic aprons and other flammable materials away from hot areas and don’t try to do too many things at once, keep calm and don’t rush.
– Only use natural gas or any other source designed for this purpose.
deals.
– Steam burns and scalds should be cooled as soon as possible, for at least ten minutes. This will reduce the heat of the burn, swelling, and pain, as well as prevent further damage to the underlying tissue.
– The blisters should not be removed. A damp cloth or ice wrapped in a cloth can be used on the injury. Remove anything on that part of the body before swelling occurs.
– Dress the area with clean, sterile materials or a bandage.
– Do not use adhesive bandages, tapes or cotton.
– Do not apply lotions or greases to the lesion and never break blisters, remove loose skin or interfere with the lesion.
The measures discussed above are intended for minor injuries only. Serious injuries must be handled professionally by a qualified doctor.