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When you think about it, there are a lot of ways you can get hurt in your kitchen—at any age. From sharp knives to hot surfaces to slippery floors to flammable gas, your kitchen presents the opportunity to injure yourself in seemingly every corner.
If you’re a senior citizen looking to enjoy the independence and familiarity of staying in your own home, there are a few safety tips we recommend for reducing the risk of injury-causing accidents in your kitchen:
- Store household items on lower shelves so you can reach them easily. Standing on your tip-toes or, worse, trying to balance on a precarious stool or chair to reach a high shelf puts you at risk for a fall;
- Keep a reaching device on hand so it’s not necessary to climb or stretch for items on shelves;
- Make sure there is a fire extinguisher within easy reach. And, just as importantly, make sure it’s in good working order and everyone in your home knows how to use it;
- Keep floors clean and clutter-free. Make sure there’s nothing you could slip on or trip over on your kitchen floor;
- Clearly mark “on “and “off” positions on appliances as appropriate. Many kitchen appliances pose a fire hazard if you leave them on too long;
- Store sharp knives in a rack or a drawer with a sturdy knife block;
- Use a tea kettle that has an automatic shut-off;
- Check food in the refrigerator on a regular basis to ensure freshness, making note of expiration dates. It may seem like a waste to throw out food that just expired, but eating it isn’t worth the health risk;
- Make sure that the stove and sink areas are well lit;
- If you kitchen has a gas stove, make sure it is equipped with pilot lights and an automatic shut-off in the event of flame failure. This can be checked by your local utility;
- Whenever possible, drawers are preferable to cabinet shelving;
- Make sure that kitchen cabinets can be reached easily;
- A light switch should be located near every door into your kitchen. Your kitchen is dangerous enough in daylight. Don’t risk injury fumbling around in the dark;
- A single-lever mixing faucet is recommended for the sink. This will reduce the risk of burning yourself with scalding water;
- If absolutely necessary for reaching higher shelves, use a sturdy stepladder or step stool rather than a chair;
- Use non-skid floor wax on the floor;
- Be sure to wipe up spills immediately. Make sure to keep paper towels and/or a good mop handy for doing so;
- Store hazardous items like cleaning products and bug killers separately, away from your food;
- Unplug small appliances when not in use. This will save you a little bit on your energy bill, as well;