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648910 tn?1290663083

safety in the kitchen or elsewhere

In resonse to my recent journal entry...I have disappeared....I learned some new compensatory skills courtesy of our friends.  These were aimed at safety and comfort in kitchen.  I thought I would share them

1. put everything within easy reach
2. watch about wearing long sleeves around the stove...fire hazard
3. get a comfy stool to set on while you are doing tasks, i.e chopping vegetables
4. if a knife is sharp then it is too sharp
5. keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen
6. set a timer as a reminder to ck things on the stove or in the oven
7. tongs for frying chicken come in handy (see journal entry ;0)

These are all good tips.

so what tips do you have for us.  If we share then our combined knowledge, the whole,  is greater that the sum of its parts.

It doesn't have to be in the kitchen just any tip for safety, security or comfort we can all benefit from.

Have a great weekend.

Since it is so pretty out we may have to bump this on Monday...I am sure everyone is wanting to enjoy this beautiful weather....I think it is so across the country?

terry
12 Responses
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233622 tn?1279334905
I burn things.  it is awful.  The timer thing is a great idea.
Helpful - 0
505094 tn?1240317431
I've been thinking lately about looking into kitchen ware for people like us who sometimes rattle and roll while trying to cook.  I just found this site, http://www.freedomlivingdevices.com/cups.html  and they do have some pretty good equipment for helping us cook.  Cooking saves me from the slippery slope of despair some days and I really don't want to give that up.  They've got all kinds of helping devices here.  I didn't check out their prices, so I don't know what they charge.  They even have a thing to help poor tea.  
My husband got me a giant soup pot and I'm able to freeze about 5 meals for the two of us.  I call it my MS stash as somedays I really have no energy to fix supper.  Charley
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have learnt,

1. To put any liquids i'm wanting to drink and not wear or throw all over the house, in drink cups with lids. i'm not talking about a sippy cup that babies use, alas i had considered it lol. I've found that the traveler mugs now come in nifty colours and i've got a thermal water bottle that goes every where i go, very handy, i look like i'm drinking water but half the time its coffee. No more spills though.

2. To use a fork in place of my left hand when ever i want to slice something like a tomatoe, my right hand still does the tremor over reach and its not safe when you've got a sharp knife cluched and ready to slice something up, its usually my left hand so i try to keep me out of the way. My Bro bought me a slice and dice thingy but the blade scares the heck out of me so i'm reluctant to use it, others my find that type of thing easier though.

3. To by ready chopped onions from the feezer dept of the suppermarket. No one can tell the difference and its easier all round than trying to dice evenly.

4. To only buy shampoos and conditioners that fit in my hand, large bottle are too heavy to lift and squeeze at the same time now, if i cant do it one handed i cant buy it anymore.

5. To make extra meals when i'm having a good day, only takes reheating in the microwave and i dont feel so guilty. I also do my rice in the microwave now, turn left overs into fried rice and then freeze it.

6. To not try to lift any pans whilst they are hot or filled with boiling water, always ask for help or i'll be mopping up the floors again.

Cheers........JJ
Helpful - 0
429700 tn?1308007823
I have had times that I couldn't stand long enough in the shower to take one, fo for the shower, I have a plastic chair without metal do-dads that would rust that I keep nearby.

If you ever find that you're having mobility issues, be very careful if you use an office chair to get around.  I fell out of one when I was using the rolling office chair when I reached over to get something off of the floor.  Luckily, I didn't crack my head open!  The next time I'm having mobility issues, I'm getting a wheelchair or scooter.

Also, never underestimate what a really good pair of cushiony shoes can do for you.  

I guess the biggest adjustment I had to make was to give up the things that I used to do.  Reassess if some of the chores or things can be done in a more simpler way or not at all.  I can't do any yard work now and my husband doesn't do much of it.  I was sad to see my garden be overgrown with weeds, but I've been putting blinders on in regards to things like that.  Texas is too hot to mess with yard work when I'm off for the summer.  The weekends are time for me to recoop and do teacher stuff.  If I could afford it, I would get someone to help with the yard work.  

I do some housework, but my husband does most of it now.  I do keep lots of baskets in every room.  I keep cleaning supplies in as many places as possible.  I also have a lot of trash cans to keep from having to get up.  I also use laundry hampers to pile things in to make one trip across the house for putting things in their place.  

I no longer use the stairs unless I absolutely have to.  My daughter cleans up there, now.  I used to take great pride in how I kept the house; however, I had to revamp how I live my life and look at things (I used to be somewhat OCD about cleaning).  I've learned to overlook messes.  My husband isn't the best at housekeeping, but he does his best and I bite my tongue (which was hard at first).  He cooks, and if he doesn't, we go out to eat.  I cook very little.  Often times, I'll sit in there with him while he cooks and we'll just talk about the day. We also have coffee breaks and just gab about anything other than problems at a coffee shop, outside on the patio, or at a book store.  

Just think about simplifying your life, and try to eliminate as much physical and mental stress from your life as possible.  Look at everything--every little bit adds up!

Deb








Helpful - 0
739070 tn?1338603402
Terry,

Feeling old is putting up bars in the shower so you have something to catch you when you fall.

Other bathroom tips include getting rid of rugs on the floor. My latest fall was worsened by the fact that I was surfing the rug on my way down.

I have a mini food chopper that I use on a regular basis. Love it! Mine is about 5 years old. It's made by majic chef and holds 11/2 cups I believe..maybe 2. When I'm done it goes in the dishwasher so I don't have to worry about slicing my hand open while cleaning it.

WAF

When you come up with the "don't knock the cup over' let me know. I'll be first in line to buy one !
Helpful - 0
648910 tn?1290663083
Oh Kathy I am going to try that onion chopping thing.  I am also thinking about buying one of those mini food choppers.  They look like a little food processor.

Anyone ever use one of these.  If so, do you like it.

The rice cooker, i have one.  i haven't learned how to prevent the rice from becoming overcooked or undercooked.  Each rice is different.  You can also use it to warm your soup.  Just put it on the warm setting and come back to it later.

But don't forget to come back to it.

terry
Helpful - 0
648910 tn?1290663083
WAF when you discover that secret it will be your ticket to being a millionaire....lol

I would for sure buy it.

great tips guys.  How about in the bathroom.  It to is full of safety hazards.

I have a garden tub which is really hard to get out of.  The sides are wide.  So I lay my washcloth on the edge of the tub then sit on it to dry before I turn around and get out of the tub.  It keeps me from slipping.

I also had to give over and put  tread in the bottom of the tub.  I felt really old that day. ;0)

Keep them coming

terry
Helpful - 0
867582 tn?1311627397
I can sure relate to your kitchen experience - seems like I always have a pot soaking to loosen the charred material on the bottom.  My teenage son is the one who looks out for me when I'm cooking as well as afterward - turning off the oven and burners as needed.

Now if I could only figure out how to not bump or knock over my daily glass of grape juice almost every time I reach for it!

WAF
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the tips!  

Here lately my brain has been so fried that I've had several instances where I put something on the stove, walked away and forgot that I had done it. Thank goodness my husband was around to discover my blunders before I burned the house down.

My grandmother told me the other day she'd feel better if I wouldn't cook without him around - unless I was just popping something in the microwave.

Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
I just really want someone to load that crockpot or solar cooker for me ...

oh yeah, that's right ... they are called restaurants!  

Eat out and avoid all those hazards in your kitchen. LOL


Truthfully I love (just typed the word LOST instead - that was quite the slip of the brain!) to cook but don't do it like I used to very often anymore.  It takes too much energy.

Now I'm hungry for home cookin',
Lulu

Helpful - 0
738075 tn?1330575844
Hey, this is all great.  Since I'm off the grid, crock pots and microwaves don't fit in (they eat too many watts).  The solution?  A Solar cooker!  It doesn't even have to be warm outside, since it works on reflection and a big, black, pyrex enclosed bowl.  I know many of you in the Rockies and Midwest and elsewhere have gorgeous sunny days between storms, though it may be cold.

The solar cooker is loaded up, like the crock pot, and put out in the morning.  When the sun goes down, I bring it inside, and voila!  It's done!  No muss, no fuss!  Order yours through RealGoods *******.

Bon Appetite!
Guitar_grrrl
Helpful - 0
405614 tn?1329144114
A food processor can be good for chopping up veggies; cuts down on knife wielding.  I'll cut the onions so that when I run them through with the slicing blade, they're chopped.  Also, sliced works as well as chopped in many recipes.  Just be careful when you clean the blades!

When using towels or paper towels to wipe up spills or splatters, don't get them too close to the burner on the stove!

I microwave yams; wash them, poke them a few times, wrap in waxed paper, and nuke for 4 - 5 minutes or so, checking for doneness.  Be careful peeling; they are hot!  

I learned that you can do the same with delicata squash, or other small squash; I'm going to try that today.  When they're soft to being poked, you cut them in half, scoop out the seeds, and enjoy (plain or add butter, brown sugar, whatever you like). That saves you from cutting hard squash in half and cooking in oven, possibly forgetting until the smoke alarm goes off. :o)

Slow-cookers (crock pots) usually automatically switch to warming when the cook time is done.  Same with automatic rice cookers (I got a nice one at Costco).  The trick is making sure that you have the right amount of liquid, so food doesn't stick.

Makes me yearn for my bread machine and the smell of fresh baked bread; maybe I'll buy some yeast and a few other things.  The machine beeps when the bread is done, then turns off.  

If you have a cat like Fluffy, be alert!  Fluffy likes to be right under my feet, especially when I'm in the kitchen.

As for weather, we've been alternating between beautiful sunshine and total downpours.  I went and bought rain gear for the soccer match last night, so of course the rain clouds blew away.  The Portland Pilots Women's Soccer team won the West Coast Conference title and will advance to the play-offs!

Kathy

Helpful - 0
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