Grilling safety
Americans enjoy more than three billion barbecues each year. But
barbecuing can be dangerous or even deadly if you are not careful.
The following tips can make your grilling experience safer:
- When ready to barbecue, protect yourself by wearing a heavy
apron and an oven mitt that fits high up over your forearm.
- With gas grills, make sure the gas cylinder is always stored
outside and away from your house. Make sure the valves are turned
off when you are not using them. Check regularly for leaks in
the connections using a soap and water mix that will show bubbles
where gas escapes.
- Barbecue grills should be kept on a level surface away from
the house, garage, landscaping, and most of all, children.
- For charcoal grills, only use starter fluids designed for those
grills. Never use gasoline and use a limited amount of starter
fluid. If the fire is too slow, rekindle with dry kindling and
add more charcoal if necessary. Never add more liquid fuel or
you could end up with a flash fire.
- Be sure to soak the coals with water before you put them in
the trash.
- Always remember that grills remain hot long after you are through
barbecuing.
In case of an emergency
If you get burned, run cool water over the injury for 10 – 15 minutes.
Never put butter or salve on burns because they will seal in the heat
and cause further blistering. If you receive a serious burn the sooner
you get medical attention the better. With Permission © Insurance
Information Institute, Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -
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