Salt Lake City Accident Attorneys
Microwave ovens may seem much safer than conventional ovens, but they cause over 7,000 house fires in the U.S. every year and are a leading cause of scald injuries. In June, 2013, the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported that between 1990 and 2010 the number of microwave injuries increase 98% per year. Microwave ovens are particularly dangerous to young children, but adults are often injured, too. Here are some tips for preventing microwave oven accidents and injuries.
- Beware of superheated liquids. This is not urban legend. Superheated water, is water that has passed boiling temperature but is not moving like water normally does when it is boiling, so it does not appear to be that hot. When the water is disturbed, by moving the container or adding an ingredient, it erupts, flying up and out of the container, easily causing serious burns.
- When opening containers, point them away from your face to avoid steam burns.
- If you have children, make sure that the microwave is not at the edge of the counter at their face level.
- If your child is not mature enough to safely use a conventional oven or stove without supervision, he’s not ready to use the microwave unsupervised either.
- Microwaved foods often have hot and cold spots. Food that does not feel hot at first can have very hot spots that will burn you, and foods that feel hot may have cold spots that are not thoroughly cooked which could cause food poisoning.
- Never heat a baby bottle in the microwave.
- Do not use aluminum foil or any kind of metal in the microwave oven. It can cause a fire or explosion inside of the oven.
- You may need oven mitts. Containers coming out of the microwave oven can be very hot on the outside causing burns or causing you to drop and spill hot food on yourself or someone nearby.
- Only use microwave-safe dishes and containers, preferably those made of glass rather than plastic.
If you have been injured in an accident in Utah, please call the Salt Lake City accident attorneys of Hirschi Steele & Baer, PLLC at 801-990-0500 or contact us online today. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
