Fire up the Grill

Are you the type of person who always has the grill going at tailgating gatherings? Or perhaps you prefer to wait till a beautiful summer day and an outdoor area full of friends to don an apron and cook?

Americans are grilling more than ever before, so it's important to remember that a fun barbecue should also be a safe one.

Keep in mind that there is always a possibility of getting burned when working with fire. So, exercise caution. We can avoid injuries with planning and sensible behavior.

Before operating your grill, carefully read the owner's manual and abide by all use, installation, and safety instructions. If you have specific questions, get in touch with the grill maker.

Pick a secure area for your barbecue. Keep grills at least ten feet away from the house, garage, or other building, and place them on a level surface. Grills should not be used on balconies or in covered areas and shouldn't be placed too close to flammable deck railings.

Always keep the fire in check. Either elevate the grid that the food is on, distribute the embers evenly, or reduce the temperature using the controls to put out flare-ups. Take the food from the grill before using a gentle water spritz to extinguish the flames.

Keep post-grilling safety into account. Maintain a clean grill by eliminating fat or oil accumulation from the grills and the trays beneath the grill. If you use charcoal to barbecue and need to get rid of the coals, dip them in water to put them out before throwing them away in a metal container. If not, close the openings and tightly cover the grill; this should put out the flames and leave anything left for another time.