Keep Children Safe
- Keep children indoors while mowing or using other dangerous outdoor tools.
- Keep children far away from barbecue grills when cooking.
- All garden equipment and tools should be kept where children cannot reachthem. Store all sharp tools pointing downward.
Prevent Burn Injuries
- Use gasoline only as a fuel for motors.
- Store gasoline in a container designed just for gasoline in a shed or garage with a lock.
- Gasoline can catch fire with only a tiny spark.
- Gasoline must never be brought indoors, even in small amounts.
- Use gasoline only outside. The vapors (fumes) are very dangerous if you bring gasoline inside a building.
- Fill gas tanks away from smokers.
- Fill mowers and gasoline-powered tools outside, before starting the job.
- Re-fuel only after the tool has completely cooled down.
Grilling Safety
According to the NFPA, gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 900 structure fires and 3,500 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 2002, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $30 million. To make sure your next barbecue doesn’t go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:
- Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone” keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
- 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.
- 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.
- Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.