Everyone loves a good barbecue, but grilling can be dangerous if you are careless. Keep these safety tips in mind.

• Designate the grilling area a "No Play Zone" keeping children and pets well away while grilling and until grill equipment is completely cool, grills remain hot long after you are through barbecuing.
• Keep your grill on a level surface away from the house, garage, landscaping, and most of all, children.
• Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.
• When ready to barbecue, protect yourself by wearing a heavy apron and an oven mitt that fits high up over your forearm.

Charcoal grills
• Only use a limited amount of starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill. Never use gasoline. Rekindle with dry kindling if the fire is too slow, and add more charcoal if necessary. Never add more liquid fuel or
you could end up with a flash fire.
• Soak the coals with water before you put them in the trash.

Gas grills
• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
• Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
• With gas grills, make sure the gas cylinder is always stored outside and away from your house. Make sure the valves are turned off when you are not using them. Check regularly for leaks in the connections using a soap and water mix that will show bubbles where gas escapes.



Sources: Home Safety Council, About.com and Insurance Information Institute, Inc.