Top Tips to Avoid Halloween Hand Injuries

Pumpkin carving is a beloved annual tradition, but it’s also the leading cause of Halloween-related injuries in the United States, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Each year, thousands of people find themselves in the emergency room with hand and wrist injuries from carving mishaps.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute hand surgeon, John Ibrahim, M.D., is reminding pumpkin enthusiasts to keep safety top of mind this Halloween season.

“The pumpkin’s slick outer skin and slippery insides contribute to more than 4,500 hand and wrist injuries each year,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “A few simple safety precautions can help ensure the only scary part of your Halloween is your jack-o’-lantern, not the carving process.”

When it comes time to carve your pumpkin, Dr. Ibrahim recommends the following safety tips:

Tip 1: Make sure your hands and carving tools are dry and clean.

Tip 2: Keep your hands outside the pumpkin and cut in a direction away from you and your other hand, not towards!

Tip 3: Use dull serrated blades rather than traditional sharp knives.

Tip 4: Consider using knife alternatives, such as painting pumpkins or using colored markers as an alternative to carving. A carving kit with tools designed for the craft are safer for older children.

Tip 5: In general, it’s safer when adults do the carving, but if children do carve, they should do so in a well-lit area on a sturdy, non-slip surface with adult supervision.

Tip 6: If an injury occurs, rinse the wound with clean water and apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Seek medical evaluation within the first week of injury to catch any injury to tendons, nerves, blood vessels and bones to optimize recovery with early care.