NEWSLETTER We’re settling in!
By: JoAnn Keller, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
After a couple of delays, we officially moved in, with our first day in the new clinic on Monday, October 29. As with any move, we are still looking for some things, and have projects left to complete, but we are thoroughly enjoying having more space in every aspect! We have a fully private treatment room, a dedicated area for making custom braces (orthoses), several
treatment stations, and more room for active exercises. It’salsoa treat tohave largewindows allalongonesideoftheclinicarea! Weevensaw a bald eagle on day 1. It seems like a good sign. Please stop by and see us, even if it’s just to say hi and see our new digs! We love seeing people fromthecommunitythatwehavehelpedbefore.
Safety In the Kitchen This Holiday Season
By Helen Reilly, OTR/L
My first job was working in a bakery. I ended up with lots of small burns onmyforearmsandupper arms, and the worst ones were from taking cookies out of a high convection oven. It took a while, but
• Keep your knives sharp. Dull edges on blades make you use more force to cut into an object, which can cause it to slip. • Place knives into soapy dish water only when you are ready to wash them – reaching blindly into dishwater with a knife or other sharp objects is risky. • Let falling knives or glasses fall. Try to avoid the urge to grab them suddenly. • Cut away from your body. • Keeppotholdersnearby;usekitchenmitts • Place a damp cloth under the cutting board to prevent it from slipping • Useanelectriccanopenertoprotectyour thumbsfrom nastycutsorwearand tear on your thumbs.
• Turn handles away from the front of the stove to prevent scalding accidents • Keep the floor dry so no one slips and falls • Dress for the occasion. Wear close-toed shoes, natural fiber clothing (synthetics melt) and avoid loose clothing. Keep long hair tied back and remove dangly bracelets that can catch on pot handles. • Andonefor thoseofuswhoarevertically challenged: Use a step stool to reach high places Most of all, plan and prepare before you start. Ingeneral,observingbasickitchensafety rules is a great habit to develop and a sure recipe for cooking fun!
over time I learned several lessons. The most importantone? Kitchensaredangerousplaces, particularly for hands and arms. Herearesometipstoprevent injuriescommonly seen in hand therapy: • Use a spoon (instead of a knife) to take out an avocado pit. • Cutopenabagelonacuttingboard–not in your hand.
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