Get all up in your grill:

Find a Healthy Grilling Recipe Guiltless Barbecue Chicken Grilled Marinated Swordfish Lemon-Barbecued Swordfish Grilled Vegetable Tenerife Swordfish with Red Pepper Salsa Pasta Salad Tangy Potato Salad Summer Sangria Tea Nectarine Nelly

Before you fire up and start flipping, make sure you know how to keep your cookout from becoming a catastrophe. Whether using a charcoal or gas grill this season, follow these steps to prevent your good times from going up in smoke:

• Location, Location, Location: No matter what the weather may be doing, never bring a barbecue grill indoors or into any other unventilated space. This includes sheds, garages or tents. Not only can sparks fly and ignite a flame, but grilling inside can also expose inhabitants to toxic fumes and potential asphyxiation.
• Keep Your Distance: Make sure your grill is at least ten feet away from any flammable object—house, garage, picnic bench, tree, bush, etc. And don't just look around; look up for overhead decks, eaves or branches that could pose a problem.
• The No-Zone: Draw a line in the sand, grass or concrete to keep children, pets and foot traffic away from the grill area. Declare a three-foot safety zone around the grill to ensure that no accidents occur.
• Look for Leaks: Always check a propane grill before using it for the first time each year. A quick sniff should tell you if something is amiss, or you can apply a light soap and water solution to the gas cylinder hose and watch for the telltale bubbles of escaping propane. If you suspect a leak, turn off the gas tank and grill immediately. If the leak stops, take the grill in for repair. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department immediately.
• Laws of Liquid: Always remember to have a water supply close by to deal with any grilling flare-ups. A garden hose or at least 16 quarts of water will be sufficient enough to quench a flame. Remember to keep alcoholic beverages a safe distance away from the grill, as alcohol is flammable.
• Grease is the Word: Make sure to thoroughly clean your grill in between uses. Grease buildup can greatly increase the risk of a fire. If the grease does ignite and cause a fire, do not try to extinguish it with water, which will only spread the grease around. Instead, cover with a lid or smother the fire with baking soda.
• Dress Code: Tell the chef to avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing that could easily get caught in the flame. Always use flame-resistant mitts and keep several long-handled grilling tools at the ready to flip food from a safe distance.

Next time you're heating things up in the backyard, make sure to enjoy the sounds, smells and sizzle of summer safely.

 

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