What it takes: Knife cuts
Most kitchen cuts happen with dull knives, rushed chopping or hands in the way of the blade. Bagels, avocados and slippery produce are classic culprits.
Cooking and baking
Sharp knives, hot surfaces and hours on your feet in the kitchen.
Cooking at home is one of the best things you can do for your diet. The kitchen has its own hazards. Knife cuts and burns are the most common injuries, raw food can carry germs, and long sessions on your feet tire the back and legs.
What it takes and what to do
What it takes: Burns and scalds
Hot pans, oven racks, steam and splattering oil cause burns. Most are minor, but spilled hot liquids can cause deep scalds.
What to do about Burns and scalds
Prevent kitchen cuts and burnsAs neededKeep knives sharp, cut on a steady board, and handle heat with dry mitts and turned-in handles.What it takes: Food poisoning
Raw meat, poultry, eggs and unwashed produce can carry bacteria. Cross-contamination, undercooking and leaving food out too long are the usual ways it spreads.
What to do about Food poisoning
Follow the four food safety stepsAs neededClean, separate, cook and chill to keep germs off your plate.What it takes: Sore back and feet from standing
Long sessions at the counter on a hard floor, often bent slightly forward, leave the lower back and feet aching.
What to do about Sore back and feet from standing
Make long standing easierDailyUse a cushioned mat or insoles, shift your weight and take breaks when your job keeps you on your feet. Wear supportive shoesAs neededChoose shoes that fit well and suit your activity, and replace them when they wear out. Do cat-cowDailySlowly round and arch your back on hands and knees to move your whole spine.What it takes: Wrist and hand strain from prep work
Chopping, kneading and whisking repeat the same wrist and hand motions. Big batch days can leave the forearms sore.
What to do about Wrist and hand strain from prep work
Stretch your wrists and forearmsDailyGentle wrist flexor and extensor stretches for hands that type, grip or tap all day. Do tendon glides for your handsDailyMove your fingers through five positions to help the tendons slide smoothly through the wrist.When to see a professional
Get care for a cut that won't stop bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure or that gapes open, a burn larger than your palm or on the face, hands or joints, or food poisoning with bloody diarrhea, high fever or signs of dehydration.