Outdoor Grilling Safety

To make sure your next barbecue does not go up in flames, follow these safety tips:

• Designate the grilling area a No Play Zone, keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool. photo of a backyard grill

• Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.

• Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.

• Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

• 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.

• Check grill hoses for cracks, brittleness and holes. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the tubing.

• 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.

• Always keep propane gas containers upright.

• Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.

• Properly dispose of coals. Empty coals into a metal container with tight fitting lid; Place the container outside and away from anything that can burn.

Swimming and Pool Safety

Almost 800 children drown in the U.S. every year.

• Two-thirds of these deaths occur during May-August.

• 1-4 year olds are more likely to drown in a pool

• 5-17 year olds are more likely to drown in natural water (lakes / rivers / ponds etc.)

Follow these safety tips to ensure a safe summer in and around the water:

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards

• Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions

• Always swim with a friend

• Wear a life jacket when you go boating

• Actively supervise children whenever around the water

• Learn how to swim – Enroll non-swimmers in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructor

• Secure the perimeter of your pool

• Keep lifesaving equipment near-by

• Talk to your kids about water safety; Drowning is 2nd leading cause of accidental death in children

• Remove toys or other temptations from the pool area

• Be cautious when diving; never dive in shallow or questionably-deep water

• Ensure inexperienced swimmers use life vests

• Learn CPR