150 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
To Prevent Burns
Burns can be caused by hot appli-
ances, hot dishes, hot food, hot water, or
steam. Minor burns make the skin red and
sore. Blisters may form. Major burns can
destroy skin and nerves.
Many people get burned in the kitchen
every year. Some die from these burns.
You can avoid burns by following these
safety measures.
• Avoid wearing loose-fi tting clothes
or long sleeves when you cook.
Clothes and hair can burn. Be sure
to tie back long hair.
• Avoid reaching across a hot surface
unit. The heat from the unit can
scorch or burn your skin or clothes.
• Fill pots and pans no more than two-
thirds full. A pot or pan that is fi lled
too full may boil over. The hot liquid
can cause severe burns.
• Turn the handles of pans toward
the back of the range. See 8-3. If
handles stick out over the edge of
the range, pans might get knocked
off. Also, be sure the handles don't
project over a hot surface unit. The
hot surface unit will heat the handle
and make it fi ery hot.
• Open a pan lid by tilting the lid
up from the back of the pan. This
method lets the steam escape away
from you and prevents steam burns.
Steam is hotter than boiling water
and can cause serious burns.
• Pick up hot pots and pans with pot
holders or oven mitts. Pot holders
and oven mitts can be made of
8-2 8-2
A sturdy A sturdy
stepladder helps you reach stepladder helps you reach
high shelves safely. high shelves safely.
8-3 8-3
By turning the handles By turning the handles
of pans inward, you can prevent them of pans inward, you can prevent them
from being knocked off the from being knocked off the range.range.
Refl ect: Have you ever burned yourself while cooking? How did
it happen? How could you have avoided it? Why are these safety
tips important? What are some other ways you could prevent
burns?
Resource: Preventing Burns in the Kitchen, Transparency
Master 8-1, TR