Tips for avoiding injuries while carving your jack o'lanterns

Consumer Reports has some helpful hints to help keep you safe when working on your jack o'lanterns this year.

Carving pumpkins sounds pretty straightforward but significant injuries can happen.

"Every year I do see patients that come in with a hand related injury. Lacerations of digital nerves as well as flexor tendons," says Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Stuart J. Elkowitz, MD.

So here are some do's and don'ts to help keep you safe.

"Don't use knives. Kitchen knives are sharp and they'll slip around and it's really easy to cut yourself. Instead, use pumpkin carving tools. They're much smaller, they're much less sharp and they're going to be much easier to handle as you're carving the tough pumpkin skin," says Consumer Reports Health Editor, Catherine Roberts.

But if you have to use kitchen knives, make sure they have short handles.

Doctors also recommend not to take the top of your pumpkin off before you carve your pattern.

"You're setting your opposite hand up for sustaining a penetrating injury," Dr. Elkowitz says.

To play it super safe, carve out just the bottom. That way you won't risk getting burned.

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