Be Careful Working the Grill This Summer

Nothing says summer like a brisket in the smoker or some burgers on the grill. Unfortunately, barbecuing can lead to some pretty serious injuries. According to the Overton County News, Tennessee fire departments answered nearly 200 calls between 2013 and 2017 due to fires from barbecues, hibachis, and grills. The Tennessee Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS) reported that these fires caused $3.4 million in property damage. Three firefighters were hurt, and four civilians were injured.

There’s still quite a bit of time left before we start looking to our ovens as opposed to our grills, so we wanted to take a minute and share some safety tips to help you protect yourselves and your loved ones. The State Fire Marshall Office (SFMO) recommends the following safety steps for any would-be griller:

• Avoid wearing loose clothing while grilling or barbecuing.
• Avoid barbecuing or grilling indoors. Grilling in an enclosed order can result in deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Charcoal grills and propane must be used outdoors.
• Kids and pets should be kept clear of the cooking area.
• Family, friends, and neighbors should understand how to respond to a fire. This includes using a fire extinguisher. It also includes knowing how to stop, drop, and roll if clothing catches fire.
• Call 911 or other emergency numbers if someone is burned and needs medical help.

Using your grill in a safe manner can keep you from being injured

It might seem a little blasphemous to imply that there are people in Tennessee who don’t know how to take care of a grill, we know – but one quick study found that more than a hundred people get hurt by grill brushes alone each year, so you can never be too careful.

Southern Living offers some tips for cleaning and maintaining your grill to ensure that your food tastes its best and that your grill works well, but it also offers these four safety tips:

1. Be sure to open the lid before lighting your gas grill.
2. Make sure your grill is at least 10 feet away from your house and any other flammable materials….
3. If you’re out of charcoal lighter fluid, never substitute gasoline or kerosene. Once you start the grill, be patient. Do not add more lighter fluid to speed up the heating process.
4. Store propane tanks outside, sheltered from direct sunlight.

To these, we add that grill users should read the manufacturer’s instructions before using it. They should also understand the basics of treating burn injuries. Burns are classified into 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd degree burns, and 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns often require care by a physician. Burn injuries can be life-threatening. Severe injuries often require skin grafts and often leave permanent scars.

Don’t risk starting a grilling fire that can take someone’s life or cause serious injuries. To understand your legal rights, please contact the Memphis burn injury lawyers at Bailey & Greer, PLLC. You can reach us by calling 901-680-9777 or by filling out our contact form. We represent the injured and the families of deceased loved ones in Memphis, Jackson, West Tennessee, and the nearby locations.