Pumpkin perils Published Oct. 14, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Dave Watnemoe 319th Air Base Wing Safety Office GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- It's getting to be that time of year when your average-looking pumpkin is turned into a stunning work of art, or in some cases, a mutilated mess with a flaming candle inside. The tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns started with children in Ireland carving the centers out of rutabagas, potatoes and turnips and placing candles inside. These were left on the doorstep to ward off evil spirits on All Hallows' Eve. The children would leave an offering with it which we know as a "treat" to appease the wandering spirits. Otherwise, the spirits might mess with your property or livestock, which is where the "trick" comes from. Immigrants to the United States started carving pumpkins because they were much larger and more readily available. With today's history lesson finished, let's talk about carving safely. Every year during the carving season, some people end up in the hospital with injuries to their hands and fingers. The first rule to avoiding a trip to the emergency room is to remember is that carving should only be done by adults. If you don't let your kids slice meat in the kitchen the other 364 days of the year, why would you let them jab the biggest knife in the drawer into a round vegetable? A lot of people use carving kits. They contain a funny shaped knife that, while safer than a steak knife, is still capable of stabbing and cutting the hands, fingers and delicate tendons. In the race to out-do the neighbor's pumpkin, there has been a rise in the use of power-tools. Dremels, drills and saws can add to the "wow" factor, but with one slip can also add to the "ouch" factor. We have all heard the phrase "use the proper tool for the job," but I don't think anyone designing tools for Sears said, "Hey this saw would be great for cutting metal pipes, 2x4 studs and carving pumpkins!" Set aside a Saturday to carve pumpkins because a lot of the injuries that happen are due to people being in a hurry to finish the carving. Rome was not built in a day, but you should be able to safely carve a couple of pumpkins in a day with the proper tools and mindset.