Mami of Multiples

Grilling Safety Tips and $75 Giftcard Giveaway #MOMGrillingSafety

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With summer in total full swing grills across the nation are fired up everyday. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is recommending that grillers be mindful of safety, especially as the peak months for grilling fires, June and July, approach. While gas grills contribute to a higher number of home fires than their charcoal counterparts, all grills pose a risk for fires and burns.page-0Gas grills were involved in an annual average of 7,100 home fires in 2006-2010, while charcoal or other solid-fueled grills were involved in an annual average of 1,200 home fires, according to a 2012 NFPA report on cooking fires. More than one-quarter (28 percent) of home structure grill fires started on a courtyard, terrace or patio, 28 percent started on an exterior balcony or open porch, and 6 percent started in the kitchen.

In December 2012, Hannah Storm, ESPN SportsCenter anchor, was badly burned while preparing to cook dinner for her children. After wind blew out the flame, propane gas pooled on her grill and became an explosive fireball when Storm attempted to re-ignite it. Only the instinct to close her eyes upon seeing the flame saved her corneas, but her face, neck, chest and hands suffered first and second-degree burns.  According to NFPA, flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires. Storm feels that it is “important to tell and share this story because it was a very simple mistake that I made, but it was a very common mistake. People all over the world grill and they grill all the time, and most of the people that I know really don’t understand the proper procedures…”

In December 2012, Hannah Storm was badly burned while preparing to cook dinner for her children. After wind blew out the flame, propane gas pooled on her grill and became an explosive fireball when Storm attempted to re-ignite it. Only the instinct to close her eyes upon seeing the flame saved her corneas, but her face, neck, chest and hands suffered first- and second-degree burns.

According to NFPA, flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires.

Storm feels that it is “important to tell and share this story because it was a very simple mistake that I made, but it was a very common mistake. People all over the world grill and they grill all the time, and most of the people that I know really don’t understand the proper procedures…”

“Fires and burn injuries are not only traumatic for the person, but for the family and community as well,” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of Communications at NFPA. “Hannah is very courageous to share the personal details of her fire experience and burn injury to remind the public to take steps to prevent fires and avoid injuries.”

– See more at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=298&itemID=18346#sthash.TS6cf6Op.dpuf

In December 2012, Hannah Storm was badly burned while preparing to cook dinner for her children. After wind blew out the flame, propane gas pooled on her grill and became an explosive fireball when Storm attempted to re-ignite it. Only the instinct to close her eyes upon seeing the flame saved her corneas, but her face, neck, chest and hands suffered first- and second-degree burns.

According to NFPA, flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires.

Storm feels that it is “important to tell and share this story because it was a very simple mistake that I made, but it was a very common mistake. People all over the world grill and they grill all the time, and most of the people that I know really don’t understand the proper procedures…”

“Fires and burn injuries are not only traumatic for the person, but for the family and community as well,” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of Communications at NFPA. “Hannah is very courageous to share the personal details of her fire experience and burn injury to remind the public to take steps to prevent fires and avoid injuries.”

– See more at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=298&itemID=18346#sthash.TS6cf6Op.dpuf

In December 2012, Hannah Storm was badly burned while preparing to cook dinner for her children. After wind blew out the flame, propane gas pooled on her grill and became an explosive fireball when Storm attempted to re-ignite it. Only the instinct to close her eyes upon seeing the flame saved her corneas, but her face, neck, chest and hands suffered first- and second-degree burns.

According to NFPA, flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires.

Storm feels that it is “important to tell and share this story because it was a very simple mistake that I made, but it was a very common mistake. People all over the world grill and they grill all the time, and most of the people that I know really don’t understand the proper procedures…”

“Fires and burn injuries are not only traumatic for the person, but for the family and community as well,” says Lorraine Carli, vice president of Communications at NFPA. “Hannah is very courageous to share the personal details of her fire experience and burn injury to remind the public to take steps to prevent fires and avoid injuries.”

– See more at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=298&itemID=18346#sthash.TS6cf6Op.dpuf

Grills should be placed well away from the home and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. If there is a fire involving grilling equipment, any fuel for the fire should not be near the home or any other structure. 

Some other grilling safety tips from the NFPA are:

  • Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
  • 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 igniting it.
  • Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
  •  If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
  • If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 15 minutes before re-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.

GIVEAWAY
At Mami of  Multiples, we want everyone to be safe and free from accidental grilling fires this Summer.  One person will win the following:

  • A $75 cash giftcard so a fire extinguisher can be purchased as a safety precaution in the home.

Enter to win using the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
For more information about grilling safety, visit www.nfpa.org/grilling.

Be Safe Grilling!

signature-for-posting1Disclosure: Mami of Multiples is providing the giveaway prize. This giveaway prize is not administered or sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or its affiliates, but solely by Mami of Multiples.

Comments

  2. I liked the FB post.

    We are practicing the rule about never leaving your grill unattended.

  3. To be safe, I get out of the way and let my fiance do the grilling for me! lol!

  5. I try to grill far away from the house and definitely have been looking at a fire extinguisher. I had one in the other house but we don’t have one here.

  17. I let me husband do the grilling and he is always careful to follow the proper instructions for the grill and the kids are not allowed to go near it.

  28. We make sure that the grill is placed several feet from our back door/home and make sure that the kids don’t play around it

  29. We keep the our gas grill in a fenced off area that is not accessible to our kids and dog.

  33. My hubby stays close to the grill to make sure everything is okay as we grill. thank you!

  35. Liked the Mami of Multiples Facebook Page and “Liked” the Grilling Safety Tips giveaway posted on the Facebook Page Rosanne Morrison

  38. We keep baking soda nearby for grease fires on the grill but I would much rather have the proper extinguisher.

  40. We always grill outside, my parents review fire safety with each of us before we cook or help grill!

  41. We just bought a grill and I’m excited to use one again! I liked Mami and the giveaway in FB.

  42. My husband does all the grilling and he;s very careful. And we don’t leave it unattended.

  45. we always keep it away from everything so the heat won’t affect anything around it

  46. We keep the grill far enough from the house and keep the kids away from the grill

  49. Keep grill away from flammable things as well as keep kids and pets away when in use

  55. We have a large fire extinguisher mounted on the wall near our kitchen and the back door to the deck with grill. That way the extinguisher is accessible for both areas. I would love to have another for the upstairs, but we haven’t gotten around to it., yet.

  58. My hubby does the grilling. We do not let the kids near the grill. We do keep a spray water bottle next to the grill.

  60. We keep the grill away from any tree branches and the siding of our home.

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  61. We always use a charcoal grill and keep a water hose handy to keep the flames from getting out of hand!
    Thank you!

  63. I liked your Facebook Page, your Grilling Tips Post & Giveaway and commented! 🙂

  70. I liked your Facebook page and liked the grilling tips and commented on it. Thank you

  74. I liked the Mami of Multiples Facebook Page and liked the Grilling Safety Tips giveaway posted on the Facebook Page.