Grilling Safety 10 things not to do.
I’m not sure why I was watching the old TV drama Dragnet, a 1960’s black and white police show, but I was intrigued by what I saw and thought I would write a quick post about it. The episode starts out with Sgt Joe Friday and his partner talking in their apartment. Joe is entertaining his new girlfriend, his partner and wife with a steak dinner. Joe comes out of the kitchen holding a smoking hibachi grill. I thought he was going to put it on the patio outside for grilling. A smoking hibachi in the house is scary enough but when he took it over to the fireplace and set it down I really freaked out. The episode prompted me to talk about grilling safety. I am a BBQ aficionado and safety freak when it comes to open fires of any type.
Top of the list:
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Do not use propane and charcoal grills and especially hibachis inside, these should only be used outside.
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Make sure your grill is far enough away from other items , like your home, overhangs, railings and not under eaves or hanging branches. Place the grill at least 6 feet from any structure or vegetation.
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Make sure to keep children and pets away from the grill as most grills have extremely hot surfaces and an accidental knock over could be disastrous or even lethal.
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A clean grill is essential to a great BBQ party, clean your grill by removing excess fat build up and grease. Don’t forget to empty trays under the grill.
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Never leave your grill unattended.
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Never light a gas grill if the lid is closed. Give it 5 minutes to air out by opening the lid and turning the gas source off.
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Never spray starter fluid or any other flammable liquids onto a burning grill.
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Put the charcoal fluid in a safe place away from children and any heat sources.
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If you are using a natural gas grill make sure you know where the gas cut off is located. Propane tanks have reverse threads compared to other fittings so be aware not to over tighten propane connections.
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Last but not least: Make sure everything is cooled down before disposing of it properly and make sure to put left over coals in a metal container.
From 2013-2017, grills, hibachis and barbecues were involved in 10,200 home fires per year. These fires were responsible for at least 10 deaths, 160 reported injuries, and $123 million in property damage. July (17%) is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June (14%), May (13%) and August (12%), according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Enjoy safe grilling and bon appetite!
Paul Rábago, Owner Sentry Insurance Group, Austin Texas