If you’re like me and love to fire up the barbeque grill, then you know that two of the best grilling holidays of the year are coming up quickly: Memorial Day and 4th of July. It’s that time to sit back and relax with friends and family while barbequing your own personal specialty. Even if you don’t have a specialty and the dog will barely eat your burgers, it’s still a great way to get out of the house and enjoy the upcoming holidays.
Although grilling is mostly about fun, it is also important to use proper safety precautions while using your grill. For instance, never attempt to light your grill by shooting bottle rockets at the coals. It’s never OK.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are over 6,500 grill-related accidents per year. These accidents cause $27 million in property damage and send 3,000 people to the emergency room. With that in mind, here are some barbeque safety measures to help keep you and your family safe this year:
- Never barbecue inside
- Never leave your grill unattended
- Keep children and pets away from the grill
- If you are using a charcoal grill, let the lighter fluid soak into the coals a few minutes before lighting them so that any vapors have time to evaporate.
- Open the grill lid before you light it
- Don’t wear loose fitting clothing
- Keep a fire extinguisher outside or close by
- Make sure you use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house
- Have a water source close to the grill
- Don’t let raw meat sit out too long without being chilled or cooked
- Always wash your hands before and after handling food
- Don’t over indulge in alcohol while barbecuing
- Let the grill cool down before you store or cover it
- If you have a gas grill, make sure the connections from the propane tank to the grill are tight
- When you turn off a gas grill, remember to also turn off the propane tank
Hopefully the above mentioned safety tips help to ensure a safer grilling experience without spoiling ALL the fun at your next barbeque!
Stay hungry, my friends!