Alarming Barbecue Statistics and Important Safety Guidlines

BBQ safety tips

While summer barbecues bring family and friends together, they also cause a surprising number of accidents and injuries each year. In 2013-2017, fire departments went to an annual average of 10,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year. These fires caused an annual average of 10 civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries and $123 million in direct property damage. During those years, an average of 19,000 patients per year went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills. Children under five accounted for an average of 2,000 or 38%, of contact-type burns per year. Contact burns are when people bumped into, touched or fell on the grill, part of the grill or hot coals. It is often children. (Source: NFPA’s Research, Data & Analytics Division) Barbecue safety is so important to keep your loved ones safe.

So what can you do to help prevent accidents and injuries with your grill?

  • For gas grill, check carefully at the beginning of the season for gas leaks by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure the gas line is in good condition and not broken or cracked.
  • For propane tanks, make sure tank is not rusted, dented or damaged. Do not overfill it.
  • Do not store propane tanks indoors.
  • Never use your outdoor grill inside and when using it, always make sure it is in open space clear of anything flammable, such as a low awning.
  • Do not leave the grill unattended while cooking. Not only will you not know if a problem starts, but if there are young children around they often get curious and could suffer serious burns.
  • Never lean over the grill while cooking
  • Do not move the grill while it is in use or still hot.
  • Make sure the fire is completely out when you are done.
  • Be prepared in case a fire should start. This means having access to a fire extinguisher or baking soda nearby to throw on flames.

The great majority of grilling accidents and injuries can be avoided with careful use and diligence to barbecue safety. However, sometimes accidents happen that are not your fault. If the grill, gas tank or gas line are defective, for example, a manufacturer might be responsible for any injuries caused. If you are at park or beach and someone else is misusing a barbecue, they can cause injuries to you and others.

If you or a loved one was injured in any accident and you have questions about your legal rights, give our personal injury lawyers a call to find out if you have a case and the best course of action to take. There is no obligation or out-of-pocket cost to use an attorney—the fees are only collected if and when you get a settlement or verdict. Want to find out more? Give us a call for a free consultation at 516-222-4000.

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