In 2020, researchers at Emory University branded avocado hand an “epidemic.” They estimated that a staggering 50,413 avocado-related knife injuries occurred in the United States between 1998 and 2017. Even crazier? More than 27,000 of those injuries happened between 2013 and 2017 alone.
And that’s just the people who ended up in the emergency room. Who knows how many more were quietly patching up their avocado mishaps at home?
But what does avocado hand have to do with workplace safety? Well, it’s a perfect example of a preventable hand injury. And it’s not the only one.
Whether you’re at home or at work, a hand injury can seriously impact your ability to do your job—and it doesn’t stop there.
Think about how much you rely on your hands every single day.
Imagine trying to do the simplest things—tying your shoelace, texting a friend, cooking dinner, or even driving—when one of your hands is out of action.
Now picture struggling to play with your kids because you can’t catch a ball, finding it hard to walk the dog because gripping the leash hurts, or having to give up your favourite hobbies like fishing or gardening because your hand just isn’t working the way it should.
It’s more than an inconvenience. Your ability to do what you love, spend quality time with your family, and even take care of yourself can be affected. And, in some cases, it can stop you from working altogether.
So whether you’re at work or in the kitchen, hand injuries are preventable. Take a moment to think about the tools and techniques you’re using—whether it’s heavy equipment or something as simple as a kitchen knife.
And speaking of kitchen knives, avocado hand is a prime example of how a little attention to safety can go a long way. If you want to avoid being part of the epidemic, check out the videos below on how to safely de-seed an avocado. Trust me—it’s easier than you think and might just save you a trip to the ER.
How to De-seed an Avocado Safely
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