Pumpkin carving is fun for the whole family — until someone lands in the emergency room. Every year, slippery pumpkins and sharp tools send thousands of Halloween fans to the hospital.
With a few simple steps, you can keep the frights on your porch and away from your kitchen.
Assign everyone a role
Before the kids jump in to help, make sure every family member has a role that fits their age and ability level.
“Adults should be the only ones carving the pumpkin,” cautions Renee Ostin, a nurse practitioner at HonorHealth Urgent Care. “Children can help with painting and decoration, or scooping out the insides, but they shouldn’t be handling knives.”
Create a carving zone
Set up your carving workstation on a stable surface in a well-lit area, like a dining room table or a smooth-surface floor. Make sure nothing wobbles or shifts. Place paper towels or a rubber mat underneath your pumpkin to keep it from sliding around.
Pick the right tools
“Most pumpkin-carving injuries we see are cuts to the hands and fingers when people put their hands inside the pumpkin while carving,” says Renee. “Never use a box cutter, chef’s knife or anything without a safety blade.”
Instead, use a child-friendly pumpkin carving kit. They typically have blunted, saw-style blades that are safer and easier to use. Always carve downwards, or away from you if cutting side-to-side, and avoid placing your hand inside the pumpkin to stabilize it.
Scoop smarter (and safer)
Once you get the top of the pumpkin off, you’ll need to scoop out the stringy “guts.” Use a big spoon or ice cream scoop to avoid slipping — or let kids use their hands while the adults take the lead on cutting. No scooper in sight? Wash and dry your hands before you go back to using the knife. Clean, dry hands give you better grip and control.
Power up your pumpkin
Candles charm, but they can also cause harm. “We often see burns from dripping wax or reaching into a pumpkin and getting too close to the flame,” Renee says. She recommends using a solar powered or battery-operated candle instead to keep your gourd glowing strong all season long.
Treat accidents in a flash
For cuts: Wash gently with antibacterial soap and use a clean towel or bandage to hold pressure for 10 minutes. If bleeding doesn’t stop or the cut is deep, visit an HonorHealth Urgent Care location. Our team can provide wound care and repair the cut, if needed.
For burns: Dripped candle wax? Finger too close to a flame? Soak a towel with cold water and apply it to minor wounds, then head to urgent care. For more severe burns with blistering or charred tissue, go straight to the nearest HonorHealth emergency room or call 911.
Carve out good memories
Decorating pumpkins together is more fun when everyone leaves the table happy and healthy. Follow our tips to stay safe while having fun and your jack-o’-lantern will be the only thing giving your family chills this Halloween.
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