With Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to break out the pumpkin carving tools and unleash your inner artist to design the spookiest, creepiest and most clever jack-o’-lanterns in the neighborhood.

But believe it or not, emergency rooms see their share of pumpkin carving injuries during the Halloween season. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments from 2020-2022 – and 55% of these injuries were related to pumpkin carving. Bone injuries and serious cuts to the hands are not uncommon.

So whether you’re a first-time carver or an experienced pumpkin artisan, keep these safety tips in mind.

Keep it age-appropriate. Kids may be eager to carve pumpkins themselves, but that’s a task best left to adults or mature teens who understand knife safety. Even when teens are doing the carving, an adult should supervise.

To involve younger kids, encourage them to draw a design for an adult to carve. You can also have them help scoop out the insides.

Another option is to skip carving altogether and let younger children decorate pumpkins with stickers, paint, markers and craft supplies.

Use the right tools. You might think that a big kitchen knife is perfect for cutting through a thick pumpkin shell, but it’s not the wisest choice. Sharp knives tend to get stuck in the shell, increasing the likelihood that you’ll be cut when you try to pull the knife out.

Pumpkin carving kits are usually safer because they are specifically designed to carve through rinds, etch designs into the pumpkin’s surface, punch holes through the shell and scoop out seeds.

Prepare the carving area. Wash and thoroughly dry your carving tools before you begin – you don’t want them to slip in your hands.

Choose a roomy, stable surface, and make sure the work area is clean, dry and well lit. Your hands should be dry, too.

Light your jack-o’-lantern safely. When you’ve finished creating the perfect carved pumpkin, choose a safe way to light it. While candles may have been a popular choice in the past, there are much better ways to display your freshly carved handiwork today. Use glow sticks, flameless candles or other battery-operated lights.

If you do choose to use a flame, keep lit pumpkins well away from flammable objects.

Care for injuries right away. If you cut yourself while carving a pumpkin, apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. Clean the wound with an antibiotic and cover it with a bandage. If the bleeding doesn’t slow or stop after 15 minutes of continuous pressure, seek medical care.

Sources:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
State Farm®
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission