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CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. Taking safety precautions can take the scary out of carving a Jack OLantern.
Were careful not to have tools that are dull, thats the main thing, make sure your tools are sharp and you have the right tools for the job, says Michael Natiello, creative director for Historic Hudson Valley. Natiello supervises the carving of thousands of pumpkins each year, for Van Cortlandt Manors Great Jack OLantern Blaze.
Volunteers at the Blaze, for example, are only allowed to clean out pumpkins, while experts do the carving. Use a gentle sawing motion, saw it up and down, that gives you a little more control, says Natiello.
Unfortunately, injuries sustained to the hand from carving pumpkins can be very severe, said Erin Leary, OTR/L, a Certified Hand Therapist at Hudson Valley Hospital Center. While some injuries are minor cuts, others can be much more disabling, requiring surgeries that result in three to four months of rehabilitation.
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand suggests that only parents carve the pumpkin, that children can trace or outline the pattern. Parents can also consider having children paint the pumpkin instead of carving, or glue objects onto the pumpkin for decoration.
Some other suggestions from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand include: -Always have adult supervision. Accidents can happen even when children are left alone for a few seconds.
-Carve in a clean, well-lit, dry area. Any moisture on your tools, hands or table can cause slipping that can lead to injuries.
-When adults carve, they should cut away from themselves in short, controlled strokes.
-Use a pumpkin carving kit. This will help reduce the chance of injuries.
-Paint a pumpkin instead. Children can express their creativity by painting or decorating pumpkins with objects that can be glued or attached.
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