Summer Grilling Safety Tips

Grilling safety tips that families need to know and use!

Each year Americans prepare about 3 BILLION meals on grills. It’s summertime and many families will be hosting backyard BBQs. Each year, outdoor grilling accidents are responsible for 19,000 emergency room visits and 7,900 home fires.



Below are some IMPORTANT “Safety Tips” to help keep your family safe:

•Place your grill on a flat, level surface so it won’t tip over.

•Keep your grill a safe distance from your house or any building.

•Position your grill in a well-ventilated location. Never barbecue inside homes, tents or vehicles. Burning charcoal inside can kill you. It gives off carbon monoxide, which has no odor.

•Never use a grill under any surface that can catch fire such as a garage, carport, breezeway, awning and porches. Keep a safe distance from overhangs, fences, deck railings and shrubbery that could be ignited by a sudden flare-up or flying spark.

•Never leave the grill unattended, especially when young children or pets are nearby. Designate the grilling area a "No Play Area" and keep kids and pets away from grill until equipment is completely cool.

•Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill. Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire, either can cause an explosion.

•Never attempt to restart a fire by adding additional lighting fluid to an already-lit grill, this can cause a flare-up and burn you.

•Do not close the lid until you are ready to cook. Doing so might put out the fire or cause a rush of flame when the lid is removed. Closing the lid prematurely also can prevent charcoal lighter fluid from completely burning away, giving foods a strange taste.

•Use insulated, flame retardant mitts while cooking or handling any part of the grill. Also, use long-handled barbecue tongs and utensils for safe handling of food and coals.

• Wait until coals have completely cooled before disposing them, as they get up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit! If you must dispose of coals before they have completely cooled, remove them individually with long-handled tongs and carefully bury them in a can of sand or in a bucket of water. Never pour the hot coals into a pail of water, or vice versa. Steam from the briquettes may burn you.

•Keep a fire extinguisher handy when grilling and know how to properly use it.

For further information contact:

Douglas Motz Insurance Agency

760-200-0270 or go to www.DougMotz.com