Don't let your kids carve pumpkins. Most accidents on Halloween happen to children from 10 to 14 years old. And the most common injury is a laceration to the fingers or hand. Even with adult supervision, there is a decent chance of injury. Let them help with cleaning out the pumpkin seeds and drawing the pattern. But don't give them the knife. Let them participate by painting pumpkins instead.

Use a pumpkin carving kit. A sharp knife can become stuck in the pumpkin and cut your finger when it is dislodged. If the saw from a pumpkin kit is jammed, it is not sharp enough to cause a deep cut when it is freed. The equipment is also smaller than a kitchen knife, so it is easier to control and cut intricate patterns.

Dry everything. It decreases the odds that your hand will slip because of moisture. So make sure your hands, the tools and the pumpkin have been thoroughly washed and dried. As you cut, pumpkin pulp can cause the handle to be slippery. Take the time to dry it and your hands before continuing.

Hold carefully. Don't stick your hand inside the pumpkin. Some experts go so far as to recommend that you cut the pumpkin before removing the top so that you won't be tempted to do so. The knife is likely to slide easily through the pumpkin at some point and could cut your hand. Professional carvers put both hands on the knife - one for power and one for control. You should as well. Also, cut away from yourself. You will inevitable hit a soft spot in the pumpkin and you don't want to go into your hand, if it is holding the pumpkin, or your body.