Kitchens - Safety Tips at Christmas

Many of us take safety in the home for granted, and yet the majority of accidents happen in the home - our kitchens are one of the more obvious accident hotspots.

We spend a significant part of our day in our kitchens – from breakfast through to dinner. And yet many of us take our kitchens for granted as places we routinely navigate and use. It’s easy to forget that kitchens are places that are in fact full of potential hazards – boiling water, hot ovens, gas, fat fryers and hot oil. So it’s always worth reminding ourselves about the need to put safety first in our kitchens – especially at those times of year when we tend to be using our kitchens more than normal and are under some stress, such as Christmas.

Kitchens in the Festive Season

It isn’t just the unhealthy food that we eat in our kitchens during the festive season that we need to worry about. Alcohol is the biggest problem over Christmas. Drinking too much isn’t just about feeling ill the next day: it can trigger domestic arguments; cause unwanted pregnancies; heighten depression, and land many people in the A&E. We tend to stock up our kitchens over Christmas with booze we wouldn’t ordinarily drink the rest of the year. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t drink and be merry – just take a few precautions.

Booze Control

As well as the Xmas booze, make sure you stock up on other essential ingredients in your kitchens: water, fruit juice, vitamin C and aspirin. Sure have a few treats and chocolates, but also fill your kitchen with healthy snacks too and try and balance out the excess if you want to avoid indigestion. It isn’t just about one day of indulgence – it could take months to try and shift the unwanted weight!

Don’t be a Turkey!

Kitchens are also places where we can get potential food poisoning – especially at Christmas with raw poultry on our work surfaces. It’s also important all poultry is thoroughly cooked – so always follow the instructions carefully. You don’t want life-threatening salmonella!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Don’t just vegetate on the sofa – a brisk walk after lunch will help you digest your food and burn off a few calories.

Remember, if it gets too hot in your kitchen over Christmas, take a step back. It’s only a couple of days, and there’s no rule saying you have to enjoy them. Take extra care in the kitchen when it comes to flaming Christmas puddings and hot ovens.

At DIY Kitchens, we can meet all your kitchen needs, from door handles to kitchen sinks. Take a look at our extensive collections – you can buy online or call us on 01977 698418 to find out more.