Ramadan witnesses a flurry of activity in the kitchen, which increases the incidence of injuries. Kitchen accidents are common every year during the holy month of fasting, according to doctors.
“Just like a motorist speeding to reach home for iftar, a woman rushes to prepare meals for iftar and the rush results in accidents,” says Dr. Yasser Shalaby, consultant emergency medicine and clinical service. “During Ramadan a majority of patients who are admitted to the emergency ward are victims of kitchen accidents. Either serious burns or cut cases or accidents while using the oven.”
“It was just an hour before Maghreb when I was preparing food for iftar with other family members,” says Noor Kamran, a Pakistani housewife. “I tried to light the oven. Somehow it didn’t light and the oven was filled with gas. When I came back after few minutes to bake the dish, I found the oven not working. I didn’t notice the smell of gas, although my sister-in-law and mother-in-law warned me, but in a rush I pressed the lighter and there was a huge explosion. My face, arms and hair were badly burned.”
Kamran said that no one at home knew what should be done in the aftermath of the accident. “We put toothpaste and ran to the doctor. Upon arriving at the hospital, I was given immediate treatment and the doctor told me that I should have used cold water first.”
“Earlier, I used to think that water would harm the injured skin but the reality was different,” added Kamran.
Shalaby advises people not to use metal plates while heating in the microwave because it may result in the microwave exploding.
“Another piece of advice for housewives is to open windows and doors once the odor of cooking gas is evident. I would also warn parents not to have small children in the kitchen while preparing meals. A quick solution to treat burns is to run cool water over it. Most importantly, every kitchen needs to have a fire extinguisher,” cautioned Shalaby.
“An estimated 70 percent of people who are admitted to hospitals during Ramadan are those who have had kitchen accidents,” adds Shalaby. “People need to be more attentive and put safety first. Adults also need to be familiar with first-aid procedures,” the doctor concluded.
Early in Ramadan, Civil Defense Directorate spokesman Col. Abdullah Al-Harithi urged the general public to follow the directorate’s instructions on how to handle kitchen accidents and avoid risks.
These instructions are available at the directorate’s website along with information about preventative measures.
Kitchen accidents rise in Ramadan
