The winter holidays will soon be here, and families throughout New York will be enjoying the season by gathering with family and friends to enjoy tasty holiday treats. Cooking on a hot stovetop always increases the risks of burn or scald injuries, but you can take several steps to help reduce this risk for yourself and those you love.
Here are three ways that experienced New York burn injury lawyers help their families and friends avoid burn and scald injuries while cooking:
Childproof the Kitchen
Small children are at a higher risk of injury than older kids or adults, because they are less able to understand the risks that hot pans and food pose. Always remember to unplug appliances used to heat food or other items. Never hold or carry a child while cooking on a stove. Instead, put a child’s high chair in a place where they can see and talk to you, but where they cannot reach the stove.
Position Hot Items to Prevent Burns
Putting pots and pans on the back burner of the stove and turning handles away from the stove edge can help you avoid accidentally tipping a hot pan over onto yourself or someone else. When taking covered containers out of the microwave, remove the lid slowly and keep faces and hands away from the lid, since hot steam can cause burns. Always use oven mitts or potholders to move pots and pans, even if you’re pretty sure they have cooled. It’s better to be safe than suffer burn injuries.
Think Fire Safety
Make sure kitchen fire extinguishers are charged properly before the holiday cooking begins. Now is also a great time to double-check the batteries in smoke detectors and to make sure the oven and other appliances are properly cleaned.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP wish everyone in New York and across the country a safe winter.