It is estimated that roughly 7 million American children are on their own or are cared for by a sibling for short periods of time after school. With summer vacation coming soon, even more children will be on their own at various times of the day. The kitchen, of course, is one of the first places children go. The following are some clues to food and kitchen safety that you will want your child(ren) to remember: Proper hand washing Hands carry a lot of germs! The first step in food safety is to wash your hands before making or eating a snack. All you need is a little soap and water. Make sure the water is warm, and lather up. Scrub the back and front of your hands, between the fingers and do not forget your fingernails. Wash for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse under running water and dry with a clean towel. Proper handwashing could save you from becoming ill. Clean fruits and vegetables Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating … use clear, clean running water – no soap. Using a knife When using a knife to cut your food, always cut away from your body. Using a microwave Microwave cooking is fast but can cause serious burns. Some general tips for safe microwaving include: o Never turn on an empty microwave oven. This can cause the microwave to break. o Read package directions carefully. Make sure you know how to set the microwave oven controls. For example: 10 seconds rather than 10 minutes. o Use only microwave-safe cookware. o Food coming out of the microwave can be very hot. Never pop the food right from the microwave into your mouth. Allow the food to cool for several minutes before eating. This includes letting microwave popcorn set a few minutes before opening; then open the bag so the opening is pointing away from you. Steam from the bag can cause serious burns. o Have potholders handy to remove hot dishes from the microwave. Handling hot liquids Hot liquids, not fire, are the most common cause of burns to children. If you get burned working in the kitchen: o Go to the sink and hold the burned area under cool, running water. o If the burn begins to blister cover it loosely with a sterile gauze, or a clean cloth. o Tell a grown-up whenever you are burned. If the burn is severe and hurts badly, get help from an adult immediately. Food storage and safety Germs grow quickly in foods that are not stored properly. o For example: Milk, lunch meat, hard-cooked eggs and yogurt must be put back in the refrigerator as soon as you finish fixing the snack. o Discard foods like bread, cheese, jelly, fruits, vegetables or any other foods that have mold spots or look bad. o Fruits and vegetables that are shriveled or have soft spots should be thrown away. Clean-up spills If you spill something, take the time to clean it up properly and immediately. Toaster safety To use a toaster safely: o Keep the toaster away from curtains, towels and other things that could catch fire. o Plug it directly into the electrical outlet. Avoid using adapters with many other appliances plugged into the same outlet. Unplug toasters and other kitchen appliances when not using them. o If toast gets stuck, unplug the toaster. Do not stick any object inside to remove the toast from the toaster. o Toasters can catch on fire. If you see flames from a toaster or any kitchen appliance, tell a grown-up immediately. If an adult is not home, call 911. Stove safety Use a stove only if you have been trained to use it by an adult. Keep things that will burn away from the stove. Towels, potholders, plastics and paper towels can all catch fire quickly when near direct heat or flames. o Keep an eye on the stove when cooking food. Turn pan handles away from the front so someone could not knock them off while walking by. o Always turn off the stove when you are done cooking. What to do in case of a stove fire If something on the stove catches fire: o Smother the fire with a lid. o Turn off the burner. o Once the fire is out, tell an adult there was a fire. o Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames. o Do not throw baking soda, salt, water or flour on a fire. o Do not attempt to carry a burning object to another room.
