The love of avocados is on the rise with people eating almost twice as many avocados as they did just 10 years ago. As avocados are on the spectrum of nutrient dense, low-carb foods, this is undoubtedly a great thing for peoples’ health. Although, as with most things in life, it is not purely without risk. Avocado hand injuries are also on the rise. Avocado Hand is an injury caused by accidentally cutting or stabbing through the avocado and into the hand causing anywhere from small cuts to deep wounds which may damage muscles, nerves, and tendons and require medical attention and surgical intervention.
OUR NEW FAVOURITE FOOD; THE AVOCADO.
Avocado Health Benefits.
Not only delicious, but avocados are also incredibly nutritious packing vitamin C, B5, B6, E, and K into a low-carb, high-fibre, package which also has a large amount of healthy, unsaturated fats.
Popular for a reason. Guacamole to Avocado Toast.
An incredibly versatile ingredient, avocado is easy to add to almost any diet or cooking style. Avocados can be used in appetisers, main courses, and even desserts. Not only included as a popular component of famous dishes from around the world such as sushi and guacamole, but they also have a place in everyday foods such as salads and sandwiches. With good reason, avocados are hugely popular in health-conscious cuisine as well as rich foods usually more associated with pure indulgence.
Slippery and delicious. Injuries sustained while preparing avocados are called Avocado Hand.
With the popularity increase of avocados, there has been a rise of hand injuries known as Avocado Hand.
Injuries occur when cutting, preparing, or pitting avocados. Since there is a change in texture through the thick skin to the soft, creamy inside, with the hard, slippery pit at the centre, people are finding themselves cutting or stabbing themselves while preparing avocados.
Ways to prevent and avoid injury:
Avocado Rules: Follow these steps to avoid avocado hand.
1. Choose perfectly ripe avocados which are also the tastiest, and the safest avocados to prepare.
2. Wash, rinse, and dry the avocado well to keep it from being too slippery.
3. Always remove the small, hard piece of stem at the top of the avocado.
4. Check for any soft spots in the outer skin that your knife may slip through easier than the rest of the skin.
5. Use a small, sharp knife that you have had practice using routinely.
6. Use a cutting board or hard surface, rather than the nondominant hand to hold the avocado while it is being cut and prepared.
How to avoid hand injuries when preparing avocados.
We often find ourselves in a hurry or overconfident when we are preparing the same ingredients again and again. This is when most injuries happen. Building the habit of following the above avocado rules will help avoid injury. Even more importantly, the surest way to avoid injury is by using a cutting board or hard surface, rather than the nondominant hand to hold the avocado. Simply, place the avocado on the hard surface, hold it securely, spin it to cut it in half, rounding around the pit. The avocado will then split in half and the pit can be removed safely with a spoon or smacking the knife into it and popping it out, all while the avocado is safely on the surface and not in the hand.
When we slip. How to treat avocado hand.
Avocado hand injuries can range from a small cut that is easily managed at home to severe gashes, punctures or stab wounds that require professional medical attention.
First Aid at Home.
Cuts and wounds that are easily treated at home are wounds where you can easily stop the bleeding within a reasonable amount of time, generally under 10 to 15 minutes. Wounds where the skin edges are still able to meet and there is no injury to any underlying structures such as muscles, tendons, or nerves are wounds that can usually be treated at home. Wounds that do not become infected, heal quickly in less than a week, and are not excessively painful are also wounds that may be treated at home.
It is important to clean the wound with cool running water for 5 mins. It may be necessary to stop the bleeding with pressure. Wounds on the hand can be difficult to heal as hands have so much movement and are in contact with many different things throughout the day. Keeping the injured area clean, dry, and protected is important to help the area heal.
Another key important factor is ensuring to avoid any risk of infection. An infected cut or wound may be swollen and painful. It may be red and warm to the touch. It may also weep or expel puss or malodourous fluid. Infection is best treated by consulting a doctor.
When to seek medical attention.
If the avocado hand injury is too severe to treat at home, it may be necessary to seek medical attention. If the bleeding does not stop with strong pressure within 10 to 15 minutes, it may be time to seek further help. Also, if there is damage to underlying structures such as tendons, muscles, or nerves, it is necessary to see a medical professional who can provide potential surgical intervention. This is evident if you have numbness and loss of active motion and continued excessive bleeding. A wound that has uneven, deep edges that do not meet may possibly require stitches or at least assessment to ensure any risk of damage to underlying tissue or risk of infection can be effectively managed.
Continue to enjoy healthy avocado dishes safely.
Now that the downside of sustaining an avocado hand injury can be managed successfully, there is no reason to stop enjoying all the great benefits and deliciousness of avocados and continuing to explore all their amazing possibilities.
Video Recommendation: