Dangers In The Kitchen

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When parents think about dangers in the kitchen, their first thought is obviously the stove or oven. Yet this isn’t the only potential danger in the kitchen. Here are some other hazards you should be aware of:

Hidden hazards & overlooked dangers in the kitchen

The garbage disposal
Kids can suffer broken bones or have a finger amputated by sticking their hand down the drain and turning on the garbage disposal unit. Be sure to install a cover over the switch so it isn’t accidentally activated, or disable the switch altogether if you don’t use it.

Exploding glassware
If you use glass bake-ware, it can shatter. There are at least 12,000 documented cases of people landing in the ER due to exploding baking pans, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. To prevent such accidents, follow these safety tips:

  1. Always set hot glassware on a dry cloth potholder to cool.
  2. Preheat the oven before putting the glassware in.
  3. Add liquid to the bottom of the dish before cooking meats.
  4. DO NOT place glassware on a burner or under a broiler.
  5. Never pour liquid directly into hot glassware.
  6. DO NOT take dishes directly to the oven from the freezer, or vice versa.

Blenders and Beaters
A 3-year-old girl was helping her mother make cupcakes for her birthday party. But as the little girl leaned over the food bowl to look, a few strands of her hair got caught up in the mixer. The beaters pulled more in, winding her hair so tight it ripped a clump off her head, resulting in a bald spot the size of her mother’s palm.

Blenders and beaters can also break little fingers that get caught inside them. So remind your kids ahead of time to keep their fingers away, and be sure to tie your child’s hair back every time they help you in the kitchen.

Toasters and toaster ovens
The lever on a toaster can attract the interest of children, and the slot on the top just begs to have something put inside, which might be a child’s hand or something that is flammable.

Coffee Makers
These can be as dangerous as a stovetop, but are often overlooked. It contains a burner which keeps a glass pot of scalding liquid hot for extended lengths of time, and thus, can be very dangerous. Keep your coffee maker far to the back side of the counter, and make sure that the cord is secured so that it can’t be pulled on. Warn children that the coffee maker can be hot to the touch. Also try to avoid making large pots of coffee that you’ll keep on the warmer for extended periods of time.

Dishwashing machines
Small children have been known to crawl inside and become trapped in these. We’ve seen a few cases of children dying inside dishwashing machines.


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