Summer Safety

7/14/2016 (Permalink)

Don't Burn your meal... or the house

Summer is the time for many fun activities including barbecues, and fireworks.

Each year, an average of 230 people are injured badly enough to require medical treatment after firework-related incidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition to causing injury, fireworks are also responsible for thousands of house fires each year with millions of dollars in property damage.

• Leave fireworks to the professionals. Do not use consumer fireworks.
• The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals.
• After the firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active.
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear.
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire.

There is nothing like firing up the grill during the summer.

"Each year an average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. While nearly half of the people who grill do it year-round, July is the peak month for grill fires followed by May, June and August."

As we hit mid July, peak grill time, a simple backyard barbecue can become dangerous if safety precautions aren't considered.  SERVPRO of Beverly wants you to have an enjoyable and safe summer. Consider the following tips to make sure your summer celebrations are disaster-free!

SAFETY TIPS

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
•  Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
•  Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Never leave your grill unattended.
• Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
  
  CHARCOAL GRILLS
  
  
• There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
  
  
•  If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
  
  
• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
  
  
• There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.
  
  
•  When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

Tips and information provided by the National Fire Protection Association.
National Fire Protection Association