"Summertime is always the best of what might be." - Charles Bowden

Hosting a BBQ? In addition to the food preparations, seasonings, marinades, and perfecting barbecue techniques, there are many nuances to the art of grilling that should be on your radar.

For starters, keeping a clean grill. Manufactured loose wire brush bristles left on the grill racks can get caught in food and if ingested, lead to serious injury effecting oral cavities, throat, tonsil, esophagus, stomach, and intestine. In fact, in the United States the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System tracked from 2002 to 2014, 1,698 emergency grill brush injuries. Insure your grilling surface is clean and take a final look before placing food down to barbecue.

Whether grilling at home or in public areas (groves, preserves, campgrounds), the entire grilling process requires focused attention. Gas, charcoal, electric and portable grills all radiate heat that can escalate into uncontrollable smoke fires resulting in severe burns, loss of limbs, shrapnel trauma, and catastrophic injury. Consider the proximity of the grill and protect yourself and nearby family and friends from injury when lighting or igniting the grill, placing food down on the hot surface, cooking, and when finishing. 

For more information on propane and charcoal grills, visit the National Fire Protection Association for grilling safety tips: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/wildfire-and-seasonal-fires/grilling/grilling-safety-tips.

Take precaution when grilling this summer and relish in the great taste of barbecue.