The long days of summer mean more time outdoors and engaging in activities like grilling. While you’re firing up the grill and enjoying spending time with your friends and family, it’s important to remember to stay safe when grilling. Barbecue season brings a lot of fun and summer memories, but it also means an increase in burn injuries. Our Yuma burn injury attorney team wants everyone to stay safe when grilling this summer. Here are some tips from our attorneys to prevent barbecue-related injuries.
Be Mindful of Flash Burns
Flash burns are common when grilling. These burns occur when accelerants like gasoline or kerosene are repeatedly added to the grill. Flash burns are likely to hit in the facial area and can cause serious injury. To prevent flash burns, only use accelerants at the start of grilling, both to prevent burns and to make sure any fumes are burned off before you start cooking food. Have a fire extinguisher close by. After you’ve received proper medical attention, contact a Yuma burn injury attorney to explore your legal options.
Wear the Proper Clothes
You don’t have to wear a fancy apron to grill some delicious grub, but it’s important to be mindful of clothing that can catch on fire. Avoid wearing long sleeves or anything that will hang over the open flame when grilling. Watch out for shirt tails or any strings on clothing that can easily come into contact with an open flame. Wear oven mitts or heat resistant gloves when grilling.
Keep Your Grill Clean
Make sure your grill is free of grease or any burned-on food debris. Use a metal brush to clean this debris off the grill before starting it up. This build-up and grease can also lead to flare-ups and flash burns. Also, check propane lines and check for any cracks or other damage on the grill.
Set Up Your Grilling Station Properly
The heat from a grill can cause serious damage or lead to fires. Make sure to place a grill at least 10 feet away from your home, trees, walkways, decorations, outdoor furniture, etc. Concrete or asphalt are the best options for a grilling surface because they are non-flammable and won’t catch fire. This can also help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, if you are using a gas grill.
Have a First Aid Kit Handy
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so it’s best to have a first aid kit on hand to deal with any minor burns or other injuries. It’s a good idea to have a sober adult at the barbecue who can go to the hospital if the need arises.
Be Mindful of Smoke Inhalation
When there’s fire, there’s going to be smoke. Grilling always comes with the risk of smoke inhalation. If you’re grilling under a cover, avoid getting smoke in your nose and throat. Bystanders would also move away if there is too much smoke.
Watch Out for Sharp Objects
Another typical barbecue-related injury is amputation of digits due to cuts and other wounds. Use extreme caution when working with knives, and do all of your slicing and dicing before you add any booze to the mix!
BBQ = Choking Hazards
Barbecued food can also be a choking hazard. Remember to chop the meat into bite-sized pieces and chew it thoroughly despite how hungry you are and how delicious it smells. It’s a good idea to take basic first aid training if you frequently grill or just enjoy being outside, which would involve learning how to handle situations like choking.
Keep Children and Pets Away
Pay extra attention to children and pets when grilling. Always have an adult on hand to supervise a grill that is in operation or that is still hot. Children and pets can easily get burned or knock over a grill and cause a fire. With burns being one of the top causes of childhood injury, this is especially important.
Got Burned at a Summer BBQ? Contact a Yuma Burn Injury Attorney!
We truly hope that your barbecues this summer are full of fun, laughter, and great food. We also hope that you never need to look for a burn injury lawyer because of them.
If you do need a Yuma burn injury attorney this summer because of another person’s negligence, you can call Lerner and Rowe any time. Call us at 928-222-2222 any time, day or night. You can also reach out online anytime via our LiveChat on our website.