The One Thing an ER Doctor Is Begging You To Stop Doing in Your Kitchen ...Saudi Arabia

The kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the house, but it’s also the room most prone to accidents. According to a survey conducted by research company Compare the Market, 46% of Americans who have been injured at home said the accident happened in this particular space. 

According to their data, cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in the US. But it’s not just fires that are the risk. If you think about it, there are all sorts of items in the kitchen that could lead to injuries: kitchen appliances with sharp blades, knives, fragile dishware…If you have kids, it’s especially important to anticipate what kinds of injuries and accidents could happen in the kitchen. Maybe you feel like you’ve done a good job of making it a safe space, having child-proof locks on drawers with sharp objects inside and covering the electrical outlets. But according to ER doctors we talked to, there’s one common cooking habit that many parents don’t realize is putting their child at risk of experiencing very serious injuries.

? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week ?

The Cooking Habit ER Doctors Wish Parents Would Avoid

What stove burners do you use the most? If it’s the front burners and you have young kids, ER doctors recommend switching to the back burners instead. “Parents need to be extra careful when they're using their stove's front burner if they have young children, says Dr. Solomon Behar, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine physicianatMiller Children’s & Women’s Hospital and MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, California.

Dr. Behar says that when parents use the front burner to cook, kids will often smell the food cooking in the pots, which may pique their curiosity. “There's a risk that they can pull down those hot liquids onto them, causing scald and burns,” he warns.

Related: 'I'm an ER Doctor—This Is the One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do After a Fall'

Dr. Jacob Snow, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Pediatrix Medical Group in Las Vegas, Nevada, also warns against cooking on the stove’s front burners if there are young kids in the house. “Every year, there are thousands of children who suffer burns from a scald injury. Hot liquid being cooked on the front elements of a stove poses a risk to a child as they can reach up high enough to grab the pot or pan without realizing that the hot liquid can fall on them, causing a severe burn,” he explains.

Even just a few seconds of boiling liquid on the skin can cause a severe burn, Dr. Snow says. He emphasizes that scald burns can be severe, leading to scar formation, explaining, “Severe burns often will need painful medical treatment, potentially involving surgery, skin grafting or more."

Related: 'I'm an ER Doctor—This Is One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do If You Hit Your Head'

If you’re holding your child on your hip while cooking, Dr. Snow says it’s important to know that they may wiggle, stretch, or kick out their foot or leg and come in contact with the hot stove or liquid.

And it’s not just the front burners that can cause scalding burns. Dr. Behar says the microwave can too. “Most of the scald burns I see are actually not related to liquids on stoves, but from burns from kids spilling instant noodles fresh out of the microwave!" he warns. "Help them take those noodles out of the microwave and allow them to cool for five to 10 minutes before giving a young child instant noodles."

Related: 'I'm an ER Doctor—Here's the One Activity I Would Never, Ever Let My Kids Do'

If you or a child does get burned from hot water or food in the kitchen, Dr. Behar says to immediately remove the heat and wet clothing. Then, apply cold, clean water to the burn for between five and 20 minutes, depending on how severe the burn is. Next, cover the burn with a topical antibiotic treatment and a non-stick gauze. “I see a lot of home remedies being used on burns in my work in the pediatric emergency department, but putting butter, toothpaste or tomato sauce—or really any other substances—should be avoided,” he explains.

If the burn is anywhere on the face, hands, feet or genital area, Dr. Behar says to go to the emergency room ASAP. If a burn on the body is larger than a child’s palm, this is another time to go to the ER. “Early medical attention from your primary doctor or emergency department is important to initiate early treatment,” adds Dr. Snow.

To significantly reduce the risk of a burn occurring, Dr. Behar reiterates the importance of using the back burners instead of the front burners, and to push the handles of the pots away from the stove. “Of course, teaching children kitchen safety and having an adult present during the use of stoves can also help avoid these accidents,” he adds.

Simply moving from the front to the back burners will ensure that tiny arms and hands can’t reach them, greatly reducing the risk of getting burns. That way, you can get to the best part of cooking: enjoying your meal.

Up Next:

Related: Parents and Grandparents Who Raise Self-Aware Kids Often Do These 6 Things, According to Child Psychologists

Sources:

Hence then, the article about the one thing an er doctor is begging you to stop doing in your kitchen was published today ( Sunday 12/10/2025 - 03:31 PM ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The One Thing an ER Doctor Is Begging You To Stop Doing in Your Kitchen )

Also on site :

• Driver dies after car crashes and catches fire in Clarkson
• Japan vs Brazil: Live streaming, TV channel, kick-off time & where to watch International friendly
• How to get Luke Combs tickets as pre-sale goes for limited UK tour dates