SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: Do No Harm While Carving This Year's Jack-O'-Lantern

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

October 20, 2021

For many American families, carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition. Kids plan out their own designs, neighbors host competitions and, if you’re lucky, you just might know someone with a tasty recipe for toasting the leftover seeds.

However, as with any activity where sharp tools are involved, pumpkin carving comes with risks of injury, and it’s important to take safety precautions to make way for a fun time.

“Each year, I see several patients who have sustained injuries to their fingers and hands while carving pumpkins,” said Dr. Clayton Nelson, an orthopedic hand specialist at SSM Health Bone & Joint/OSOI in Oklahoma City. “Many of these are minor injuries that require no significant intervention, while others are more serious, and those require surgery and more prolonged rehabilitation.”

Dr. Nelson offers the following tips to help keep pumpkin carving safe and fun for the whole family:

• Keep a clean carving area. Clear the space around your pumpkin and ensure it’s on a dry, even surface. Choose a location with lots of light so you can see dangers before they arise, and periodically discard pulp and seeds to keep your surface from getting unexpectedly slippery.
• Always have adult supervision. Kids can get involved in many ways, like drawing out the pattern and removing pulp. Adults should always do the carving. It’s important to keep sharp objects out of children’s reach when not in use as well.
• Remember, sharper is not always better. Sharp knives can wedge themselves in thicker parts of the pumpkin and can become difficult to remove, which can heighten the risk of injury.

In the unfortunate event you should become seriously injured, Dr. Nelson recommends dialing 911 or visiting your nearest emergency room.

For more information about orthopedic care at SSM Health, visit www.ssmhealth.com/orthopedics.

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.