Celebrating “Spooky Season” Safely: Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Tips

Pumpkins are a Halloween favorite for carving, decorating, entertaining kids, or adding a festive touch to fall gatherings. Carving them can be a fun family activity, but can also lead to more hand injuries than you might expect.

Dr. Taruna Madhav Crawford, Orthopedic Surgeon at Riverside Medical Group Orthopedic Specialists, sees a variety of hand injuries in her practice. As a fellowship-trained hand surgeon, she sees several carving-related cases each year.

Carving Safety Tips

To help keep your pumpkin-carving safe, Dr. Crawford recommends:

• Always supervise children. Adults should handle the more difficult cuts.
• Work in a clean, dry, well-lit area.
• Wash the pumpkin, then dry both the pumpkin and your hands to avoid slips.

“You don’t want the pumpkin to be wet and slippery as you’re trying to carve,” Dr. Crawford explains. “You want a good grip on your tools; otherwise, that could lead to some injuries.”

Fun Without the Knife

Young children can still participate in safer ways:

• Scooping out seeds
• Drawing designs
• Decorating pumpkins with paint or markers

If carving is a must, leave the cutting to teens or adults.

The Right Tools

Instead of kitchen knives, Dr. Crawford suggests using pumpkin-carving kits, which include small serrated “pumpkin saws.” These allow for short, controlled strokes and are less likely to cause deep cuts.

“With big knives, you can easily slip and cut your finger or hand. You also risk the knife poking all the way through and cutting the hand that’s holding the pumpkin,” she cautions. “Pumpkin-carving tools are safer and easier to control.”

If an Accident Happens

If someone does get cut, clean the wound and apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. If bleeding continues for more than 10–15 minutes, or if there’s numbness or tingling, visit the Riverside emergency room right away.

Enjoy the Season Safely

Dr. Crawford emphasizes that pumpkin carving can remain a safe and enjoyable tradition with a bit of care. “There are many ways we can enjoy the season and still avoid injuries as long as you implement safety tips and take some care as you’re having fun.”

Keep your fall celebrations festive and safe by carving smart.

To learn more about Riverside Orthopedic Specialists, call (815) 802-7090 or visit myrhc.net/orthopedics.