Every summer, backyards across the nation see amateur grill masters fire up their grills and go to work slathering their favorite cut of meat with their best bbq sauce. But with all of the fun that can be backyard grilling, it is still vitally important for a family and that amateur grill master to remember safety at all times.
The first step that a person with a new grill can do to ensure their personal safety and the safety of their family and possessions is to read the owner’s manual of the grill. Even if one has owned the grill for years but has never read the manual, this important step of reading the manual and learning how to safely operate the grill will be a critical step in one’s safety while grilling.
Owner’s manuals will instruct a person on how to safely assemble and operate their grill. Each step as outlined in the owner’s manual should be followed and strictly adhered to while operating the grill as to avoid dangerous conditions.
One of the first things that the owner’s manual is likely to say is that the grill is intended for outside use only, as almost all grills are. Using grills indoors can promote hazardous situations including the increased risk of fire danger, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Similarly, grills should never be used in poorly ventilated areas, even if those areas are considered outdoors. Such areas with poor ventilation, and therefore pose a serious risk to those who are grilling, include areas such as garages, sheds, enclosed patios, or mostly enclosed gazebos or other free standing backyard structures.
If the grill is operated in enclosed areas, such as in the home or in one of the above areas of poor ventilation, then a distinct possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning could occur. Carbon monoxide is found in nearly all forms of smoke, including smoke from grilling, and is called the silent killer due to its ability to go unnoticed by those it poisons.
Grilling in an open outdoor area with good ventilation will limit and all but eradicate the danger from carbon monoxide or other harmful smoke components. Likewise, grilling outdoors will limit the threat of fire to the home that grills can often create.
One can prevent fires in their home due to a grilling accident by ensuring that the grill is outside, on nonflammable surroundings such as a brick or cement patio, and is on a stable foundation. Having the grill itself be stable is an important aspect to grilling safety.
One can ensure that their grill is stable by following assembly instructions and by placing the grill on a firm deck, such as a brick or cement patio. Other fire safety protocols should likewise be used at all times while grilling, including having a fire extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency.
With these safety tips in mind, a family can enjoy their best bbq sauce, baby back ribs, sizzling steaks, and other grilling favorites all while keeping safe. And a safe day grilling is always the best day grilling.
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