What should you do if you drop a knife or it falls off a table?

When a knife falls off a table, the recommended course of action is to let it fall rather than trying to catch it. The reason for this is safety-oriented. Attempting to catch a falling knife can lead to serious injuries, as you might end up inadvertently slicing yourself. The act of catching can also compromise your reflexes and judgment about the situation, increasing the risk of harm.

Allowing the knife to fall ensures that you can maintain a safe distance from it and avoid an instinctive reaction that might lead to injury. If it falls, once it has come to rest, you can then safely pick it up with the appropriate caution. This approach emphasizes prioritizing safety over impulse reactions in potentially dangerous situations.