Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington issued the following announcement on Nov. 6.
In the midst of a pandemic, families across the nation are rethinking their traditionally large holiday get-togethers and family gatherings and coming up with ways to celebrate the holiday season with loved ones virtually. A large part of holiday celebrations consists of time spent in the kitchen, which can come with dangers of its own. Whether you are planning to host a small, intimate gathering or you are spending your holidays with friends and family virtually, the best way to celebrate the holiday season is safely.
“On Thanksgiving, you have the whole spread. You have something that’s hot and right out of the oven to something that was maybe made a day ago – premade and refrigerated. Those refrigerated items are the ones we get a little more concerned about,” explained Dr. Sunil Arora, emergency medicine, OSF HealthCare.
He continued, “If they have eggs in them, mayonnaise, cream-based, those are the ones that will spoil quicker. So keeping them refrigerated, keeping them away from heat, maybe even away from the window where the sun can come in and heat it up unintentionally.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bacteria can multiply rapidly if left at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” between 40°F and 140°F. The CDC recommends not leaving perishable food out for more than two hours. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Most cases of foodborne illness can be treated at home with plenty of fluids, easy digested food and rest.
In addition to steering clear from food poisoning, another kitchen mishap comes when knives and other sharp objects come into play.
“Injuries we see with cooking and kitchen are blenders, or even those hand blenders. Sometimes the food gets stuck in the blender and the instinct is to get whatever is stuck out. They forget to unplug the blender or turn it off and then when it gets unstuck, they get injured,” explained Dr. Arora.
Like foodborne illnesses, some lacerations can be treated at home if they are not too severe. However, Dr. Arora explains that the ED sees an uptick in kitchen and cooking mishaps around the holiday season.
So, when should you head to the ED?
“My simple rule of thumb is you need to come to the ER when we can provide something you can’t at home. When it comes to food poisoning, if you’re vomiting and need medication to control that, if you have a cut and it’s bleeding and you need sutures,” Dr. Arora advised.
If you cut your hand at home and are unable to stop the bleeding on your own, Dr. Arora recommends going to the ED – where sutures can be applied and an updated tetanus shot can be given if needed. If you think you may have food poisoning, the CDC recommends going to the ED if you are experiencing severe symptoms such as bloody stools, a fever over 102 degrees, frequent vomiting, and signs of dehydrations such as feeling dizzy.
Another aspect that comes along with holiday celebrations and food is alcohol consumption. Since the start of the pandemic, drinking has increased even more than previous years. The number one way to avoid the ED if you have been drinking is to drink in moderation and not get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. This is another benefit to virtual celebrations, as driving is not necessary if you are celebrating from your home.
“If you’re leaving your house to go somewhere, always have a designated driver. If you end up having more drinks than you expected, taking a cab or an Uber home rather than forcing yourself to drive. It’s not worth it. It’s not only you, it is other people on the road,” warned Dr. Arora.
If you or a loved one experiences a kitchen mishap during the holiday season that needs emergent attention, go to your nearest ED or call 911.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Children's Hospital of Illinois Bloomington
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