How To: Have a Safe Barbecue

As you host family barbecues this summer, it's important to practice grill safety, as barbecue grills can cause serious injuries and even house fires. Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children's, offers these safe grilling tips:

Grilling Safety

• Only use the grill outdoors. Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings, out from under eaves and overhanging branches and a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area by declaring a 3-foot "kid-free zone" around the grill.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because flames can flashback up into the container and explode. Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a grill.
• When cooking food, use long-handled grilling tools to give plenty of clearance from heat and flames. Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited when the grill is hot.
• Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Always supervise children around outdoor grills.
• Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers.
• If you smell gas while cooking on a propane gas grill, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not attempt to move the grill.
• Never store propane cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

Gasoline Safety

• Never use gas to start a fire.
• Keep gas out of reach of children. Out of sight isn't enough, for any age. Store your gasoline where children cannot access it in a well-ventilated area outside your vehicle and living space. Consider a detached garage or outdoor storage shed.
• Use gasoline containers with a spout and automatic shut-off feature that will prevent overfilling of fuel tanks.
• Never use old soda bottles or other makeshift containers to store gas; children may think it's a beverage and drink it.
• Keep gas away from any source of heat, spark or flame. Even common household appliances like water heaters and clothes dryers can ignite gas vapors.