Every summer, emergency rooms see a spike in grill injuries. Take some steps to practice safe grilling and keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Summer is upon us, and that means grilling season has begun. Grilling is a great activity for getting your friends, family, and neighbors together for tasty food, socialization, and some fun activities. However, it’s important to be careful and employ good safety practices to make sure to avoid a serious incident. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are 10,600 home fires on average that are directly related to outdoor cooking appliances such as grills, barbecues, and hibachis. In addition, they report 19,700 emergency room injuries annually caused by grill-related incidents. It’s critical to be mindful of the potential dangers when using your grill.
Practice Good Grill Maintenance
Proper grill maintenance will reduce the risk of fire or injury, and it only takes a few minutes.
Check for Leaks
For propane grills, check your tank for leaks before you use it. NFPA has a great instructional video on how to do this. It’s a quick check to ensure the connections to the tank are secure, and that the hose is not damaged or cracked. This will allow you to grill with peace of mind knowing that your grill is properly set up and safe to use.
Clean It
For all grills, clean them before and after every use. Take the extra time to get a thorough clean, ensuring there is no combustible material in the grill or on the grates. It’s also important to clear anything animals and insects may have left behind. It’s unpleasant and potentially dangerous to eat food that was cooked on a dirty grill, so it’s a good idea to clean it out for fire safety as well as health safety.
Find a Safe Space to Grill
Look for an accessible area away from your home to operate your grill. You want to avoid any potential dangers including eaves, hanging branches, or other combustible material. It’s even better if you have a stone or concrete patio to place your grill.
Keep an Eye on Kids & Pets
Children and pets are especially vulnerable to injuries from grills, so it’s critical that they’re closely monitored. NFPA recommends always keeping kids and pets at least 3 feet away from the grill to minimize the risk of incident or injury.
Have fun this summer and stay safe.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.