Urgent Care has seen it all. Whether it’s burning yourself when you grab a pan that’s still a bit too hot or slicing your finger when you’re trying to cut a vegetable, someone always manages to get a little banged up. That’s why Mount Carmel Urgent Care has put together a list of things that you can do so you can skip the Band-Aids and just enjoy your time with the family.

  1. Despite the old saying that says “A watched pot never boils”, we can assure that the pot, watched or not, does indeed boil. It can be very easy to get distracted in a busy kitchen, and if you reach for the wrong pot or pan without an oven mitt, you could easily burn yourself. So be sure to pay close attention to what you’re cooking.

  2. Similarly, when you’re slicing and dicing ingredients you must be completely focused on the knife in front of you. Be sure to use the proper surface to cut on, as well as sharpened knives. These will both help prevent the blade from slipping, which reduces the chances of you accidentally cutting your own fingers or hand.

  3. If you’re cooking a type of meat, whether it’s turkey, beef, or chicken, be sure to check the internal temperature before serving. Eating undercooked meat can cause all sorts of unpleasant side effects, and nothing ruins a family gathering like everyone getting sick at dinner. So be sure to make good use of your meat thermometers.

  4. Having too many cooks in the kitchen can be a real problem. It’s great when people want to pitch in to help, but if you’ve got six people in a kitchen that can only hold four, it can be really cramped and increases the likelihood of someone bumping into another person, ingredients getting mixed up, and a giant mess being made.

Mount Carmel Urgent Care can help you patch up minor injuries such as cuts, lacerations, and minor burns from cooking. You can stop into the clinic at any time, or you can check-in online and skip the waiting room completely. However, if you or someone else has a serious injury, you should go straight to the Emergency Room.