Excited to grill out all summer long with friends and family? You should be! But don’t forget to take safety precautions to stave off a grilling disaster. A recent Red Cross survey noted that grills can cause more than 9,000 home fires on average each year, and that three in five adults have walked away from a grill while cooking, which is one of the leading causes of grill fires. To avoid becoming one of these statistics, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:
- Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
- Never grill indoors – not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
- Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
- Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house deck tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
- Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.