Keep kitchens safe

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 17

Keep kitchens safe

Your kitchen is used extensively each day. A large number of accidents occurring in the home happen in this area.

According to the 1980 New Zealand Year Book just over half of all reported accidents in 1977 occurred in the home or residential institutions.

In 1978, a quarter of all accidents were caused by cutting and piercing instruments, injury by falling objects, fire and hot objects. More than three per cent were by accidental poisoning. So the safety of the kitchen area, including the way items are stored, is of considerable importance. The safe storage of knives is most important. This can be achieved in several inexpensive ways. A simple method is to fit the knife drawer with a slotted block of wood which holds the sharp edge of the blade. This also makes the knife easy to find. Alternatively, knives may be stored in a sheath or on a rack — either magnetic or wooden, attached to the wall. It is, important that the knife is held securely, and the rack is positioned for safe use.

If bench-top storage is preferrd a knife block may be used. These are wooden containers which store knives upright. Heavy kitchen equipment is better stored at bench height so it does not need to be lifted either up or down.

This includes cake mixers and stacks of crockery for example. Burns and scalds occur easily in the kitchen and can be avoided by taking certain precautions. It is advisable to have some clear space (enough to hold an oven tray without toppling) beside the range so that hot items can be put down quickly if necessary. It is common practice to clutter up benches beside the ranges with electric jugs, tea caddies, and other miscellaneous items and from a safety viewpoint this should be avoided.

When carrying hot items, an oven cloth is safer, to use than a tea towel which frequently is damp and ..thinner than an oven cloth, thus allowing excessive heat to be transferred. An oven cloth’is more likely to be used for its intended purpose if stored in an acacessible place close to the range.

Obviously dangerous items, like medicines, disinfectants, detergents and other cleaners need to be stored away from the reach of children. This also applies to plastic bags and plastic film which are often stored in the kitchen.

Fire is a possibility in the kitchen. To minimise the danger of a fire on a range top spreading, it is better to avoid hanging curtains close by, and having fat stored beside the hobs, or matches stored over the range.

Another consideration is the storage of newspapers. These are better kept away from the range (preferably out of the house altogether) so they will not provide a quick-burning fuel fire. The fire extinguisher and first aid kit for the kitchen need to be readily accessible.

Falls can occur in the kitchen, especially if there are any loose floor coverings or cords running across the floor. Any spillages (particu- . lary' those of fat) need to be quickly cleaned up. and a separate cloth for this purpose should be close at hand. The kitchen provides many opportunities for accidents to occur. Thoughtful storage of items . may help prevent these; happening, ■ The.- Department of University Extension bulletin, :‘Kitchen Design” details further areas for consideration to help irfiprove safety of a kitchen. This costs only $2.75 posted? and is available from the Department of University Extension, P.O. Box 56.'Dunedin, and from booksellers.

This bulletin is a guide to kitchen planning and remodelling and considers all aspects' of kitchen design — floor plans, work areas, storage, lighting, ventilation, surface finishes and decor. A large proportion of the homemaker’s time is spent in this area of the house so it is important that the kitchen be well designed.