Many busy families appreciate the convenience of pressure cookers, which allow you to quickly prepare a meal using steam pressure to cook it. Unfortunately, however, pressure cookers have been known to explode and cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one use a pressure cooker, there are some important things you need to know.
- Why Do Pressure Cookers Explode?
If the lid does not close properly, the sudden release of pressure inside the pot can cause it to explode. This causes the contents of the pressure cooker, which are extremely hot, to splash all over. Most manufacturers include safety mechanisms in their products to prevent explosions. Unfortunately, however, these are not always effective at keeping the lid tightly closed while the cooker is pressurized.
- What Injuries Can Result from Pressure Cooker Explosions?
Due to the temperature of the contents, the most common injuries are burns, particularly the more serious second-degree and third-degree types. If the contents of the pot contain a lot of water, there is a greater risk of serious burn injuries. People have also suffered lacerations from getting hit with food particles traveling at a high velocity. The eyes are particularly vulnerable, and a pressure cooker injury can cause blindness.
- Is There Anything You Can Do to Prevent Explosions?
There is little you can do to prevent a pressure cooker explosion that occurs due to a design defect. However, there are safety tips you can follow to reduce the risk of injury. For example, you can turn off the pressure cooker and wait for it to release the steam naturally before attempting to open it. You should always ensure that you keep the right amount of water in your pressure cooker. Don’t overfill it, but don’t try to operate it with too little water either. Add thickening agents after taking the food out of the pressure cooker, not before putting it in.
- What Should You Do After a Pressure Cooker Accident?
The most important thing is to receive any necessary medical attention for your injuries. After that, you should start gathering evidence to build your case against the manufacturer. Locate the receipt for your pressure cooker, if you still have it. Keep the pressure cooker so it can be examined for defects. Take pictures of your injuries as well as the debris field from the explosion and the pressure cooker itself. Don’t let anyone clean this up before you get pictures if you can prevent it.
If the product was defective, it may be possible to bring a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Contact a lawyer, like a personal injury lawyer from Johnston Martineau, PLLP, to get assistance with your case.