10 Tips for Grilling Safety

Memorial Day is just around the corner and is considered by many to be the official start of summer. As the days get longer and warmer, many people look forward to one of the tastiest ways to cook - outdoor grilling.

Unfortunately, each year, nearly 9,000 home fires ^[1] are caused by grilling, and more than half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns.

Check out these 10 grilling safety tips from our Burn Center team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, so that you and your family can enjoy the great taste of food cooked on the grill all summer long:

1. Grills should only be used outdoors, 10 feet away from the house, deck railings and low-hanging branches.
2.  Maintain a safe zone, keeping children and pets away from the grill.
3. Clean the grill prior to use.
4. Use long handled grilling tools.
5. Use a fire starter log or lighter fluid to start the coals.
6. Never use any gasoline on any grill.
7. Test hose for leaks by soaking it in soap and water. No bubbles mean no gas leak.
8. Always start the gas grill with the lid open.
9. Always turn the propane tank off when the grill is not in use.
10. If you smell gas while cooking, turn off the grill and close the propane tank valve.

¹The National Fire Protection Association’s Home Grill Fires Fact Sheet