Summer is almost here! Learn how you can stay safe at the grill.
Summer is just around the corner, and with warmer weather comes the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. For many of us, that means both eating and preparing our meals outside, using an all-American favorite: the grill. But while grilling can be a fun, easy, and delicious way to prepare food, it can also be dangerous.
According to a recent report from ABC News, approximately 7,000 people suffer burn injuries as a result of grilling accidents each year. That is why it is so important that you follow important safety rules and take particular care whenever you are grilling. Injuries and accidents can happen in an instant when you are grilling, so be prepared — and be ready for the worst case scenario. Here are a few things you can do to make sure that you, your family and your guests are safe while enjoying barbecues this spring and summer:
- If you use a propane or gas grill, always check for leaks before using it. If bubbles escape from the connecting hose when you open the gas line, turn the gas off immediately and have your grill serviced by a professional.
- If you use a charcoal grill, be sure to start your fire safely. Do not put charcoal or lighter fluid on an existing flame.
- Keep your grill a safe distance from your house, siding, decorations, trees, deck rails, and other flammable items to avoid fires that can quickly spread from the high heat of the grill and any embers that might escape.
- Never light your grill when the lid is closed. Dangerous levels of gas can build up quickly and cause an explosion.
- Avoid putting too many fatty meats on the grill at once; the grease from the meat can catch on fire and send flames soaring out of control.
- Keep a container of water and a fire extinguisher close to your grill to stop any flare ups before they become dangerous.
- Keep children and pets away from hot grills while you are cooking and while the grill or charcoal is cooling down afterward.
- Use long-handled utensils to avoid getting too close to the heat.
Clean your grill regularly, and empty grease containers to avoid them catching on fire. - Always wear clothes that are appropriate for grilling, avoiding long sleeves and apron strings that can catch on fire.
- Never grill indoors or in a garage; instead, be sure to grill in an open and well-ventilated area.
Following these steps can reduce your risk of suffering burn injuries, which can pose serious health risks.
However, there are situations in which you may suffer an injury because the grill itself, gas tank, or another grill component was designed or manufactured defectively. In that case, a skilled products liability attorney may be able to recover damages on your behalf if your injuries were related to the dangerous or defective product.
At the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, our attorneys have helped more than 100,000 people get the compensation that they deserve for their injuries due to all types of accidents, including those related to defective products. We have a 95% success rate, and we have recovered more than $2 billion dollars on behalf of our clients. Contact us today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to schedule a free initial consultation. We never charge a fee unless we get money for you!
