Grilling Safely this Summer

With the official first day of summer behind us comes a time of year millions of people begin to use their grills on a regular basis throughout the season.  Messa and Associates urges you to do a quick safety check of your grill to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Here’s a list of helpful tips, recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to help you grill on the safer side.

• Keep children away from the grill area.  Even the outside surface of a grill can get hot and burn when touched.
• Never use a recalled grill.  If your grill has been recalled, immediately stop using it and contact the manufacturer for further instructions.
• Visually inspect the hoses on a gas grill for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks.  There should be no sharp bends in the hose or tubing and all connections should be secure.
• Check for propane gas leaks.
• Regularly clean the grill and the grease trap to reduce the risk of flare-ups and grease fires.
• Use grills outside only in a well-ventilated area.  Never use a grill indoors or in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn.  Gas and charcoal grills present a risk of fire and/or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result in injury or death.
• Never leave a grill unattended. 
• Keep the grill hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.

According to the CPSC, in 2010 approximately 3,800 gas or charcoal grill-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments.  There were an estimated average of eight carbon monoxide-related deaths per year between 2005 and 2007 associated with charcoal grills that were used indoors or in enclosed spaces.

Messa & Associates represents individuals and their families in complex personal injury matters, including catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, product liability, motor vehicle accidents, fires and explosions as well as carbon monoxide affixation cases resulting in serious injury or death.  Our attorneys help clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and around the country.  For more information or to speak with us about a case, please contact us at 1-877-MessaLaw.