How should you respond to a minor cut in the kitchen?

• A. Rinse with water only and continue work.
• B. Apply alcohol and keep working.
• C. Wash with soap and water, apply antiseptic, cover with a clean bandage, and wear a glove if handling food.
• D. Ignore it and keep working.

Answer: (C)

When a minor cut happens in the kitchen, you want to protect both the wound and the food you’re preparing. The best approach is to wash the area with soap and running water to remove dirt, apply an antiseptic to reduce bacteria, cover it with a clean bandage, and wear a disposable glove if you still need to handle food. This sequence helps the wound heal and prevents contamination of your preparations. Rinsing with water alone may not remove all bacteria, applying alcohol to a small cut can irritate the tissue and isn’t ideal for ongoing wound care, and ignoring the injury while continuing to work risks infection and cross-contamination.