HOUSTON – Beaumont orthopedic hand surgeon Dr. Gregory Sobol doesn't need a calendar to know Halloween is near.
"Every season has something whether it is summer sports and winter snowblowers, fall has the pumpkin carving and turkey carving as well," Sobol said.
While they may sound silly, pumpkin carving injuries can be quite scary.
"They can be pretty significant injuries. We've seen where every finger gets a laceration to a tendon or a cut to the tendon," Sobol said.
That can result in the loss of feeling and hand function. Even if surgeons can repair the damage, the rehabilitation time is extensive.
"You are talking several months to half a year before you get to return of function in the hand," Sobol said.
Sobol brought his daughters, Zoriana, 12, and Anhelena, 10, to demonstrate the right way to carve a pumpkin.
Lesson one -- sharper is not better.
A 2004 study by scientists at SUNY Upstate Medical University actually tested kitchen knives versus pumpkin carving kits.
The kits were the clear winner on both counts -- cutting pumpkins more effectively and with a lower risk of injury.
"They are safer, actually less force to penetrate the pumpkin with those instruments compared to a regular kitchen knife," Sobol said. "If you cut yourself with one of those pumpkin carving instruments, usually the damage is less significant."
Sharper, larger knives are also more likely to get wedged tightly in the pumpkin.
Sobol said don't overlook the scraper tool. It's not just for scooping out seeds. It's designed to thin out the inside of the pumpkin to about an inch where you plan to carve. That makes carving easier and allows for more intricate designs.
"You don't have to create as much force as well to cut the pumpkin," Sobol said.
The most common accident Sobol sees occurs when the hand slides off of the knife handle onto the blade.
"If you're pushing really hard, especially if the hand is wet, then the hand slips off. The first finger to get it is going to be the small finger," Sobol said.
Dry off the pumpkin and knife between steps to reduce the risk of slipping.
If you do suffer a minor cut, you can treat it at home, but anything more serious should be treated in the emergency room and if necessary, be evaluated by a hand surgeon.
There is no magic age when children are old enough to help with the actual carving, so use your best judgment.
"I think that is child-dependent because I see 30-year-olds that may not be appropriate to carve a pumpkin," Sobol said.
Painting a pumpkin is a good alternative for younger children or have them draw the design on the pumpkin and leave the carving to an adult.
Sobol stresses close supervision is key with kids of any age. We noticed he was visibly nervous while his own kids were carving -- an occupational hazard, he admits.
"I may take a little bit of the fun out of the pumpkin carving due to past experience, but I think being prepared is half the battle," he said.
In the end, all of the cuts were safely on the pumpkins.