The holiday season is here. Markets, malls and the streets are filled with the hustle and bustle of this festive season. It’s also a time when kitchens are very busy, with lots of preparation going on cooking various dishes. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to cooking mishaps resulting in burns or even the house catching on fire.

For same-day injury care, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care South Plainfield. Our board-certified medical providers can evaluate the severity of your injury and plan treatment accordingly. Just walk-in today!

Kinds of Mishaps That Can Occur in the Kitchen

According to statistics of the National Fire Protection Association, cooking causes an average of 158,400 fires, 470 deaths and 4,150 injuries in the home. It shows that the kitchen, while being a place where wonderful dishes are created, can also be a danger point for disaster to life and property.

The kinds of cooking mishaps that can occur in the kitchen include

1. Cuts on your hands while cooking.
2. Slipping in spilled liquids.
3. Contact with the skin while chopping chili peppers.
4. Experiencing a burn from an open flame or steam.

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

• Prevent a fire by not wearing dangling clothes or jewelry.
• Have a fire extinguisher handy. Check to see that your smoke alarm is in working order.
• Keep any items that could be a fire hazard away from the stove.
• Get out of the kitchen and call 911 if the fire gets out of hand.
• Keep children and pets away from the kitchen while cooking.
• Clean up the cooking area periodically so that you don’t trip up on items or slip on spilled liquids.

How to Treat Burns

• Cool the burn by putting the area under cool water for around 10 minutes. Do not use ice or cold water. Apply a cool wet cloth if the burn is on the face area. If your mouth has been burned, put a piece of ice in it till the pain subsides.
• Remove tight clothing or jewelry from the burn area quickly and gently, before any swelling.
• If any blisters develop, don’t break them. In case a blister breaks, clean it up with water and use an antibiotic ointment.
• Once a burn has cooled, apply a lotion containing cocoa butter or aloe vera. This keeps the area moist and relieves the pain.
• Cover the burn with a clean bandage. Do not wrap it too tightly to put pressure on the burn. Bandaging can protect the blister by keeping out air. It also helps reduce pain.
• If you are still in pain, take a pain relieving medication like Advil or Tylenol.

Get Same-Day Injury Treatment at AFC Urgent Care South Plainfield

We hope that you have a good holiday season. If you unfortunately suffer burn injuries and need urgent care, contact us immediately. We have experts on hand to provide emergency and extended medical treatment, to deal with this situation. AFC Urgent Care South Plainfield provides immediate treatment for all acute – non-life-threatening– injuries. The center is open seven days a week and never requires appointments. Just walk-in today!