This post was written by Ashley Wilson, MOT, OTR/L, CHT, occupational therapist, certified hand therapist, Parkview Health.
Halloween, with its treats, tricks and traditions, can be a fun season. But, with pumpkin carving, I count on seeing at least one hand injury each year. The most common injuries include minor cuts or lacerations, stabs and puncture wounds, and severed tendons, nerves and/or ligaments, all of which can lead to long-term loss of motion, sensation and strength in the hand. Therapy for these injuries is generally needed long after the holiday has passed, though sometimes they lead to a loss of hand function. The good news is carving injuries can easily be prevented with a little caution and a few safety measures. In this post, we’ll offer some strategies for avoiding the ghosts and ghouls of carving.
To avoid the emergency room this Halloween season, follow these basic steps, provided by the American Society of Hand Therapists.
- Choose the best location: Well-lit areas help you to see the task at hand clearly.
- Get a grip: Having dry hands, a dry pumpkin and dry surroundings will help to make your work area safer. Use silicone baking sheets as anti-slip surface under the pumpkin.
- Adults should do the actual carving: Kids can help pick out the pumpkin, pick out the design and clean out the pumpkins, but never allow children to use a knife. The tough skin and the soft middle of the pumpkin makes using a knife with precision difficult.
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- Buy a pumpkin carving kit: These tools are specifically made for carving pumpkins and can help decrease the chance of injury. Use tools from your utensil drawer to push out the pieces after carving to avoid joint stress – an ice cream scoop comes in handy in more ways than one!
- Use safe techniques: While carving, cut away from yourself and cut in small, controlled strokes. Do not cut toward the hand holding the pumpkin. Sometimes it is safer to do the decorative work before taking the top off the pumpkin. Cutting the pattern first on the surface before gutting the pumpkin can reduce the likelihood you will put your hand in the pumpkin where it is vulnerable to injury.
Never put your non-dominant hand directly behind the pumpkin where the knife could slip and cut. Also, make sure your tools are dry to avoid slipping while gripping the knife. Most injuries take place when holding a wet knife while trying to cut through tough pumpkin skin. The hand slips and a finger catches the knife blade, cutting through vital tendons in the fingers.
Consider these other fun ideas instead of carving this year:
- Paint the pumpkin. Coat your pumpkin with chalkboard spray paint. Use a white chalk marker to create a spooky design. Paint your house number or logo of your favorite sports team on the front of your pumpkin.
- Use a hairdryer to melt crayons over your pumpkin.
- Add tree branches to make antlers and paint or draw the face of a deer or moose. Hang small bats from the tree branches to make a Halloween tree with the pumpkin as the base.
- Potato Head pieces can be pushed into the pumpkin for a crazy expression.
Following these safety tips can help you and your family have a howling good time!
For more information, visit the American Hand Society. To learn more about Parkview Therapy Services, visit us here.
