Hand Specialist Dr. Robert Allaire Offers Safety Guide for Pumpkin Carving

Fellowship-trained hand and upper extremity specialist Dr. Robert Allaire of Casper Orthopedics — the region's most preferred orthopedic practice — has created safety guidelines to follow when carving pumpkins. These guidelines will help people avoid injuries while carving pumpkins. Patients in need of specialized bone, joint and muscle care are encouraged to call (307) 265-7205 to schedule a safe in-office appointment. Walk-ins are welcome at the practice’s OrthoCare Now urgent orthopedic clinic at 4140 Centennial Hills Blvd.

"Pumpkin carving can lead to a number of hand and finger injuries," says Dr. Allaire. "This year, my colleagues and I put together a safety guide for pumpkin carving to help our community keep Halloween fun, safe and, hopefully, injury-free."

Follow these safety tips from Casper Orthopedics to help avoid carving-related injuries:

• Have a clean and well-lit working area. To avoid having your hands or tools slip accidentally, keep your area, pumpkin and tools clean and dry as you go.
• Only use tools that are designed for pumpkin carving. Do not use knives for cooking or any other sharp tools.
• When carving, always carve and cut away from your body and hold the pumpkin with your free hand to keep it stable as you work with the tools.
• Keep children away from sharp tools—they can help with drawing design outlines or cleaning out pumpkins. When carving, everyone should be at least an arm's length away from the person carving.
• Instead of carving your pumpkin, you can always decorate your pumping with paint, fabric, markers, paper or any other materials that don't require sharp tools to complete.

"If you get injured when completing your pumpkin carving," adds Dr. Allaire, "you need to clean the wound with soap and water immediately and apply pressure to the wound. If you have numbness, pain or any loss of movement in your hand or fingers, seek immediate care from a medical professional."

As a board-certified, fellowship-trained upper extremity surgeon, Dr. Allaire specializes in providing treatment for elbow, hand, wrist and shoulder disorders as well as trauma and fracture care. He is available to see patients at the practice’s office in Casper.

To learn more about orthopedic safety or to schedule a safe appointment with Dr. Allaire, call (307) 265-7205. Walk-ins are also welcome at the practice’s OrthoCare Now urgent orthopedic clinic.