Source: Isaac Hilpp, senior extension specialist for 4-H youth development 

 

If backyard barbecues are on your summer agenda, it’s time to fire up the grill and get cooking! 

Grilling outdoors can liven up your summer social events with tasty food and fun, and it can also provide a nice break from your regular meal routine. However, safely mastering the art of barbecuing requires careful practice and attention.  

In 2022, roughly 5,400 emergency room visits were attributed to charcoal and gas grill accidents, according to data released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Follow these grilling safety guidelines to keep grilling injuries from spoiling your next cookout. 

• Use grills outside only. Even small grills can create fire hazards and release potentially fatal carbon monoxide when used indoors. 

• Keep the grill away from the house and any flammable materials. It should also be a safe distance from deck railings and overhanging tree branches. 

• Use the right lighter fluid for your grill. Store it away from heat and out of child reach. 

• Establish a child- and pet-free zone. Children and pets should be supervised by someone other than the cook and kids should stay three feet away to avoid burns. 

• Clean the grill well before use. Built-up grease and fat can contribute to fires. 

• Don’t overload the grill. Excess fat dripping on the flames can cause major flare-ups. 

• Keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby. It can be used to douse small flare-ups without ruining the food. 

• Never leave your grill unattended. Charcoal grills can stay hot for hours after use. 

• Never add lighter fluid after the flame has been lit. If the flame gets too low, add dry kindling. 

If you use a gas grill, follow these additional safety precautions: 

•  Make sure the lid is open before lighting it. This prevents flammable gas from being trapped in the chamber, which can cause an explosion. 

• If you smell gas and the flame is off, turn the gas off. 

• If you smell gas and the flame is on, get away immediately. This is a sign that there is a leak. Call the fire department and stay away from the grill.  

Kentucky 4-Hers are invited to put their grilling skills to the test at this year’s Kentucky 4-H Poultry Barbecue Contest, to be held on July 27 at the Hardin County Extension Office. The contest is open to all Kentucky 4-Hers who register with their county agent in advance. No qualifying events are required, and participants do not need to have a poultry project to participate. 

To learn more about barbeque safety tips or to register for the contest, contact the (COUNTY NAME) office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. 

# # # 

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.      

The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment news and communications team provides monthly Extension Exclusives in the categories of Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Family & Consumer Sciences. To see more exclusives, visit https://exclusives.ca.uky.edu.    

 

---

4-H