Photo Credit: Getty Images. Contributor/ The Washington Post.
Nothing celebrates life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness like a good cookout. However, with grilling comes great responsibility. We want you to be safe and enjoy time with family, but more so we want to have a peace of mind KNOWING you are being smart with the grill. That’s why we are sharing some of the NFPA’s top safety grilling tips!
General Safety Tips
Propane and charcoal grills should ONLY be used outdoors. We hope you know this one already.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. Plus, who wants to cook on a nasty grill
Never leave your grill unattended. Seriously, try not to!
Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
Charcoal Grills
There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use.
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Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
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If you use a starter fluid, use ONLY charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
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Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
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Electric charcoal starters are also a possibility. They don’t use fire at all, but you’ll need an extension cord for outdoor use.
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When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
Checking for Gas Leaks
Before using a propane tank, you should check the gas tank hose for leaks. It’s actually pretty easy to figure out.
All you need is to take some dish soap and water. Apply the combo to the hose. If bubbles release then you have a leak!
If you suspect your grill has a leak and there is NO flame, you should turn off both the gas tank and grill.
If the leak stops, be sure to get a professional to look at your grill before your next use. However, if the leak doesn’t stop after sometime call the fire department. They can handle the tank with safety.
Tip: If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill. You’ll want to call the fire department in this case and do NOT move the grill.
For more tips check out what else the National Fire Protection Association recommends
