It’s Grilling Season: Avoid Grilling Injuries With These Safety Tips

It’s summer, which means it’s time to bust out the good ol’ grill! Whether it’s making burgers for family dinner or hotdogs to compliment some beer and friends, we all love a well-cooked meal by means of America’s favorite summer cooking pastime. We know, we know – no one thinks anything could happen to them until you have a burn shaped like a fish on your forearm. We at the Parrish Law Firm want you to have a safe and fun holiday, so we’ve put together a safety guide.

Here are some safety procedures and tips for a smarter way to grill:

• Investigate your grill to ensure there are not any dents, holes, cracks, etc., and do the same for your propane tank. This should be your first step before grilling every season.
• Place your grill in a space that is not flammable. We recommend using your driveway or a concrete patio over your deck. If you are grilling on your deck, you should lay out a fire resistant mat and keep a fire extinguisher handy. Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house to avoid damage to your home.
• Keep children away from the grill. If your children want to play outside, designate an area at least 10 to 15 feet away from the grill for them to run around and enjoy the summer weather while you grill.
• Ensure you have thoroughly cleaned your grill to avoid grease fire. This means scrubbing off food remnants, grease and anything else that may have gotten stuck to your grill with a good quality wire scrubber.
• All of your grilling tools should have long handles that are temperature resistant. Wearing heavy clothing or a grilling apron will protect you from grease that may fly off the grill. Remember to wear heat-resistant gloves as well when touching hot items.

Additional Grilling Safety Tips:

• Keep decorations away from your grill, especially flammable ones.
• Never leave your grill unattended, especially with children around.
• Turn on the gas with your grill closed.
• Keep a spray bottle of water or bucket of water handy in case your grilling gets out of control. It is fairly easy to pour too much lighting fluid.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your home, and while grilling keep it outside near you for those unexpected accidents.

Grilling is a great pastime for any family, but it is important to follow proper safety practices because at the end of the day you’re using coals, propane and fire to cook.