When cooking and shopping for the client, watch out for burns, fires, cuts from knives , muscle strains and sprains from reaching and lifting, as well as slips and falls from spills.
Tools
Use these things to make the tasks safer:
- Potholders, gloves, or mitts when handling food on the stove or in the oven.
- Stepstools to reach items overhead.
- Carts to carry groceries or other heavy items. Tongs to lower food into boiling water. Fire extinguishers labeled as B, B-C, or A-B-C for flammable liquids.
Tips
Knives:
Store knives safely.
- If you are interrupted while cutting something, lay the knife down in a flat, safe space. Let a falling knife fall. Never try to catch a falling knife.
Stoves:
- Set pot handles away from burners.
- Lift pot covers slowly, away from your face, to protect yourself from steam.
- Never leave hot oil or grease unattended.
- Don’t leave the room while a burner is on. Fires can start when the liquid evaporates or food gets too hot.
- NEVER pour water on a cooking fire!
- Use a fire extinguisher that is rated for flammable liquids or put a lid on the pan and turn off the heat. Don’t take the lid off until the pan is completely cooled.
- If there’s a fire in the oven, turn off the oven, keep the oven door closed and phone 911 for help.
Shopping:
- Limit the amount you carry by hand. Use a cart if possible.
- Follow safe lifting and carrying guidelines.
- Keep your back as straight as possible and use your legs while lifting.
- Make sure bags are light and easy to carry.
Storing and moving items:
- Store heavy and frequently used items at waist height, if possible, to reduce reaching and bending.
- Move heavy items one at a time.
Talk it over
You could say this: “If we move these items to a lower shelf, I won’t have to reach so high. Do you mind if I do that to protect my back?”
Please check out How Caregiver and Client Should Talk to Each Other About Safety for related tips for effectively communicating your concerns to each other.
Find help
You can buy potholders, cooking gloves or mitts, stepstools, grocery carts and tongs at most hardware and discount stores.
To do list
Supplies needed:
- Potholders, gloves or mitts
- Stepstools
- Carts
- Tongs
- Fire extinguishers labelled B, B-C, or A-B-C
- Other: __________________________________________
Safety tips you will follow/New ways to do the tasks:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Issues you need to discuss:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
People or organizations to contact for help, tools, or information:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Building on the above to do list, you can combine them with other to do lists from the other tips in this series to create your own combined action plan for safety and keep it on hand to remind you both about staying safe.
Reference: “Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others” by Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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