When It Comes to Using Your Grill It Is Safety First

Safety conscious grill fans will be quick to notice all the hazards involved with starting a fire in the back yard. Open flame, high temperatures, close personal proximity, and possibly many friends and family, including children, running about. It can seem like a dangerous practice, but with a few quick oversights, these can all be eliminated.

First and foremost is the use of the fire extinguisher. Many states require one within ten feet of the grill when the grill is being used.. These states threaten a ticket if this is not observed. How strict they are enforcing this law is questionable as they would have to see the grill, the fire, and the lack of fire extinguisher, which in many cases, requires entering your property. So, no threat right? Well, that's up to you. The fact of the matter is that there is an open flame, and it is a fire hazard. Having the fire extinguisher near by is a simple step to prevent the worst. It is usually required that the grill be at least ten feet from the home. Both of these guidelines are easy to adhere to.

Secondly consider personal proximity. These fires can get hot. That's kind of the point. What many people overlook is the possibility of getting rather severe burns by just reaching over the flame. With temps reaching as much as 700 degrees with some fires, just reaching across the flame is a risky maneuver. Two things can prevent this from being a problem. Good, heavy duty gloves. Not your regular kitchen mitts, get some dedicated grill gloves, that cover the arm and not just the hand. Also, get the right tool. Simple, heavy duty, long handled implements will prevent you from needing to reach across the hot.

Next, is access and if you've kept your grill away from erected edifices, like you should, this shouldn't be an issue. However, it is worth while noting that you should be able to easily stand on all three sides of the grill (ignoring the back, where the lid typically is attached) and access the cook top. This will also prevent you from having to reach across the searing flame.

Next is extra personal proximity. Referring to anyone who isn't you. The easiest rule is to keep them away from the grill if they don't need to be there. This mostly applies to children, but it is just as easy to get distracted by a friend with a beer as it is by a toddler who's about to figure out 'hot' the hard way. So, stay focused, and when possible, keep others away from the cook-top. Besides, its your party, who are they to tell you when to flip that steak?

Finally consider maintenance. Keeping regular care of your grill will reduce the risk of catastrophic failure. You don't ever want to be surprised by a lid that doesn't stay on like it should, or a clear bath for small coals from the pan to the ground. Taking care of the grill, and keeping an eye on any possible points of failure will prevent you from stepping on a hot coal, or dumping the entire grill over due to a bad leg. Keep it clean, covered, and cared for.