Here is a document I put together about five years ago when I was considering getting my grandchildren familiar with knives.
Knife Safety
Knife Safety Rules - if you always apply these safety rules, you will minimize the risk of accident or injury to yourself, other people and to property.
-- THINK before you open your knife and use it. Understand the need for safety!
-- Make sure no one else, including any pets, are within arm’s reach, or may suddenly move in your direction, before using your knife.
-- Keep your knife closed or in a sheath when not in use.
-- Never leave a knife sitting around where someone else may come along and access it!
-- Always cut AWAY from yourself, NEVER toward yourself! This may seem like a common sense rule, but many unintentional cuts and accidents occur from this!
-- Remember not to take knives to places where they may be prohibited, such as schools, school functions, airports and other restricted areas.
-- Open and close your knife carefully! If you are new to knives, or obtain a new knife, practice opening and closing it safely.
-- Do not use your knife for jobs that it is not intended for, such as a screwdriver, hammer, pry bar, etc.
-- Do not strike or chop with a knife. Cut slowly and carefully.
-- Be aware of where your knife will go if it slips from your hand, and take appropriate precautions. If you do drop your knife, step away and let it fall. Do NOT attempt to catch a falling knife!
-- If you are cutting on a support surface, use a cutting board or other safe material to keep from damaging a countertop or other underlying surface. A very hard support surface may damage the blade of your knife if you slip or apply too much pressure.
-- Never run with a knife in your hand! A knife is a tool - NOT A TOY!
Knives of all kinds are tools, intended for use to perform a wide variety of tasks, from recreational use, such as whittling, to essential work, such as food preparation, on the job tasks such as cutting string or rope, opening packages and cutting cardboard or other materials.
Knives are sometimes used to perform life saving tasks, such as cutting a passenger’s seat belt to release them from a burning automobile after an accident, or in a boating accident, cutting someone free who was tangled in an anchor rope, or cutting someone’s clothing or even their hair in order to keep them from being injured when caught in a pulley, machine or on an assembly line.
It’s a knife - it’s supposed to be sharp!
Knives are primarily cutting tools, and as such are designed to be sharp, in order to cut efficiently. Studies repeatedly show that dull knives cause more accidents than sharp knives, because of the extra force applied to try to cut with an inefficient blade!
Safety First! Last, and Always…
Like any tool, knives can be dangerous if not used properly and carefully.
