Baystate Hand Surgeon Offers Pumpkin-carving Safety Tips

SPRINGFIELD — Before setting out to carve that magical jack-o-lantern, remember this: Halloween is one of the top three holidays for visits to emergency rooms.

“Pumpkin carving is a beloved part of the Halloween season for many families, when adults and children pick up knives and other dangerous tools to create their scary jack-o-lanterns,” said Dr. Pranay Parikh of Baystate Hand and Wrist Surgery. “Unfortunately, each year at this time, we see hand and finger injuries, many of which are tendon lacerations, that are preventable.”

Parikh and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand offer the following tips on how to prevent carving injuries and keep family time fun and safe:

• Be sure your carving space is clean, dry, and well-lit. Your hands should be dry, as should all of your tools.

• Adults should always do the actual carving. Let the children draw an outline on the pumpkin and clean out the pulp.

• Super-sharp knives can get stuck in the pulp and be difficult to pull out. Instead, use a serrated pumpkin saw from a carving kit.

• Always carve away from the body, not toward the body, in case of a slip. Carve slowly and steadily.

• Explore alternatives. Pumpkin-decorating kits are safe and equally fun. “I recommend using only the tools provided in a carving kit for your pumpkins,” said Parikh, referring to kits that include stencils, carving saws and scoops.