Maintain an edge on knife safety

The famous "Saturday Night Live" sketch in which TV chef Julia Child, played by Dan Aykroyd, slices through her thumb during a cooking show may be classic comedy to some. However, kitchen knife injuries are no laughing matter to either professional or amateur chefs.

But such injuries can be avoided with care in purchasing, maintaining and using knives, according to one local professional chef and cooking instructor.

"Knives are very personal, and the user needs to feel comfortable with the knife they choose," said Denise Perry, culinary instructor at Lincoln Land Community College. "A knife is supposed to be an extension of your hand.

"I really suggest that the person go to a kitchen store and physically try the knife in their hand."

Perry has taught off-site classes specifically devoted to knife skills. The classes include tips on how to avoid accidentally cutting oneself with kitchen knives, as well as what types of knives are best for different tasks. Keeping knives sharp prevents injury because a dull knife is more likely to slip or become difficult to handle.

"A sharp knife is a safe knife," Perry said. "Always keep your knives sharpened and maintained."

She added that using the right knife for the task at hand also helps prevent injury.  
Generally, carving or slicing knives are intended for cutting meat, serrated knives for cutting bread and paring knives for peeling fruit and vegetables, removing seeds and other close-up, intricate tasks. Specialized slicing tools are also available for items such as bagels and cheese that are difficult to slice with regular knives.

Knife safety tips

Denise Perry, a culinary instructor at Lincoln Land Community College, offers these tips for preventing knife injuries:

• When carrying a knife, always walk with the blade pointing down toward the floor.
• Never attempt to catch a falling or dropped knife - just let it fall to the floor.
• Do not leave knives or other sharp utensils submerged in the sink. They could be obscured by dishwater or forgotten, and cause injury when one reaches into the sink for other items. "They (kitchen knives) can be quite an investment, so my biggest piece of advice is try before you buy," she said.

Taking action

When a knife accident does happen, the National Institutes of Health offer the following first aid tips at their MedlinePlus website.

Call 911 or have someone take you to the emergency room if:

• Bleeding is severe or blood is spurting from the wound.
• The bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure on the wound.
• You experience impaired function or feeling in the area of the cut (for example, your fingers become numb or unable to move).
• Call your doctor immediately if:
• The wound is more than 1/4 inch deep or reaches bone.
• You believe the wound will require stitches.
• The object that caused the wound is jagged, rusty, or dirty. 
• You notice redness, swelling or other signs of infection around a cut.

To treat a minor cut at home, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands with soap or antibacterial cleanser to prevent infection.
• Wash the cut thoroughly with mild soap and water.
• Use direct pressure to stop the bleeding.
• Apply antibacterial ointment and a clean bandage that will not stick to the wound.