With the increase in avocado consumption, doctors are seeing more cases of “avocado hands.” This is a condition that occurs when a person tries to remove the seeds in a dangerous way and ends up cutting their hands.
According to the Hass Avocado Board, avocado consumption has tripled since 2000, with Mexico and the United States accounting for the largest portion of avocado pie.
Along with its growing popularity, avocado hand injuries are pouring into hospitals, with Eastern Health, one of Melbourne’s largest metropolitan health services.
“We see knife injuries on a regular basis. There were about three presentations per week in each of Eastern Health’s emergency departments,” emergency services director Dr. Peter Jordan told the Epoch Times.
“Avocado hands [becoming] As more people enjoy avocados, they become more popular. “
It, like related injuries, is projected to continue to rise. This is explained by the unique contrasting layers that require varying strengths to penetrate the hard outer casing, then the slippery inner texture, before encountering the large resistant seeds.
People are also accustomed to inappropriate techniques and often learn from influencers on social media.
what to do if you get an avocado hand
The name may sound silly, but it’s not the result. Avocado hands can damage muscles, tendons, and even nerves in extreme cases.
If there is a possibility of deep lacerations or weakness, numbness, or continuous bleeding, see an experienced physician or emergency nurse, as possible damage to deeper tendons, nerves, and arteries is a major concern I’ll have a doctor check it out, Jordan said.
“Most finger and thumb movements involve multiple muscles. .
“Fortunately, almost all hand lacerations caused by kitchen accidents can be repaired with good results as long as the damage is identified, properly repaired, and professional recovery advice is followed. increase.”
A study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine in 2020 found that more than 50,000 avocado cutting injuries were submitted to U.S. emergency departments over the past 20 years.
Over 80% of the injured were women. The majority of injuries occurred in her 23–39-year-old female group (33%), and the least common were in her males younger than 17 years (1%).
Most injuries filed with the emergency department occurred on the weekend during the brunch surge.
How to properly prepare avocado
To safely cook avocados, according to the California Avocado Commission:
- Take an avocado, wash it well, dry it and put it on a cutting board.
- Carefully cut the avocado in half lengthwise around the seed and flatten the fruit on a cutting board.
- Turn the avocado a quarter turn and cut lengthwise around the seed to create quarter avocado segments. Please put the knife down.
- Quartering allows you to remove the seeds seamlessly with your fingertips.
Doctors Seek Safety Warnings
The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) requires fruits to carry safety warning labels.
“People don’t expect the avocados they buy can be very ripe, and they have very little understanding of how to handle them,” said Simon Eccles, BAPRAS’ honorary secretary. Told. Times.
“I think warning labels are an effective way of dealing with this.