Fire up the grill, bring on the steak; it’s time to barbecue. We want your barbecue experience to be fun and safe for the entire family. You might think you know all you need to know about barbecue safety and grilling, but why don’t you review this page, just to make sure.
On average, annually there are over 9,000 home fires directly related to barbecuing. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, in 2011 barbecuing was the cause of $80 million dollars in property damage and 16,000 people visiting the emergency room. Follow these home safety tips from Henry Insurance Service to help your barbecue experience go off without injury or damage:
General Safety
- Never barbecue inside, in a garage, on the roof, or on a second story deck
- Never leave your grill unattended
- If you are using a charcoal grill, let the lighter fluid soak into the coals a few minutes before lighting them so that any vapors have time to evaporate. When you do light the coals, stand backOpen the grill lid before you light it
- Don’t wear loose fitting clothing
- Keep a fire extinguisher outside or close by
- Make sure you use the grill 10 feet away from your house
- Have a water source close to the barbecue
- Don’t let raw meat sit out too long without being chilled or cooked
- Always wash your hands before and after handling food
- Don’t over indulge in alcohol while barbecuing
- Let the grill cool down before you store or cover it
Gas Grill
- Before having an LP cylinder filled, check it for dents, gouges, or other signs of disrepair
- If you have a gas grill, make sure the connections from the propane tank to the grill are tight
- Use porcelain rocks instead of lava rocks. Lava rocks are porous and can hold grease which can catch fire. They also make an uneven heating surface
- When you turn off a gas grill, remember to turn off the propane tank too
Always make sure that the barbecue is in a safe place, where children and pets won’t touch or bump into it. Remember that the barbecue will still be hot even after you finish cooking; anyone contacting a hot barbecue could be burned. Make sure your home owner’s policy is up to date. Call Henry Insurance Service for a free review.
