With the return of summer, we can once again indulge in our favorite summertime activities. For some people, summer means long days at the beach to swim or surf. For others, it means days spent boating in the Pacific, perhaps with some deep-sea fishing thrown in. Regardless, summer brings with it warmer temperatures and a chance to once again enjoy your favorite activities. For some of us, it’s time to get out the barbecue and grill, grill, grill. With that in mind, it’s a good time to review how to stay safe at your summer barbecue.

Grilling Safety Tips

Every year, thousands of Americans are injured as a result of mishaps related to barbecue grills and grilling activities. Not surprisingly, the majority of these injuries occur during the warmer, summer months. Most of these injuries can be avoided if some basic BBQ safety tips are followed by the grill master. Here are our tips to stay safe at you summer barbecue.

Always Grill Outdoors

For starters, never use the grill indoors. Even if you are lucky enough to avoid starting a fire, using the grill will produce carbon monoxide, which when released in a closed area, like a house or garage, can be fatal. Grilling is an outdoor activity.

Grill Away from Your House

Grilling safety tips also require that you do not grill close to your house. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends you keep the grill at least 10 feet away from your house. Farther is better if possible. Before starting the grill, be sure it is clean. Old grease buildup makes a grease fire more likely. Even with a clean grill, keep a spray bottle full of water nearby to put down small flame flare-ups that frequently occur. Furthermore, be sure a fire extinguisher is not too far away. Of course, know how to use the extinguisher. Learning how to use a fire extinguisher isn’t something you want to be doing when your house is about to catch fire. 

Make Sure the Grill is Stable

BBQ safety continues with ensuring that the grill is on a stable surface before you begin grilling. Having a lit grill topple over in the middle of grilling can result in problems beyond just losing the food. If you are using a gas grill, check for gas leaks before firing up. Also, be sure the grill lid is open when you turn the gas on in preparation for lighting it. A closed lid could cause an excessive buildup of gas while you are fiddling around trying to light a match or lighter. Even a mini explosion from such a gas build up could cause significant harm to your hands or face.

Finally, if a fire does break out, do not hesitate to call 911 immediately. Fires spread quickly and your garden hose is not the answer. Any delay will endanger more than your house; the lives of your family and friends will be at stake. 

Get Help from UrgentMED

If you or a loved one has been injured from a barbeque mishap, the medical professionals at UrgentMED stand ready to assist you. With 17 convenient walk-in urgent care clinics throughout southern California, we offer fast professional service without a long wait. We offer weekday, weeknight and weekend hours to serve you on your terms, for your convenience. Let us assist you with all your healthcare needs. Find the location nearest to you today.