Barbecues are a beloved symbol of summertime in Michigan. From the smell of charcoal smoke wafting through the air, to the crackle of cold meat as it hits the searing hot grill – it’s very hard to beat a classic BBQ.
As pleasing to the senses as a barbecue can be, they can also be dangerous! Due to their hot temperatures and open flames – BBQ grills can pose a serious risk to your safety!
Here are some of the most common grill-related injuries and preventative measures you can take to avoid such mishaps.
Burns
 Burns are an unfortunately common occurrence. There are lots of different ways that someone can get burned at a BBQ cookout, including:
- Touching a hot grill or grill lid
- Touching hot grill utensils
- Eating hot food too quickly
All of these hazards can lead to severe injuries and potentially even land you in the hospital. In order to prevent the worst case from happening, you should:
- Make sure all individuals are sat away from the grill
- Let everyone know when you are turning the grill on
- Do not leave the grill unattended (get someone to watch it for you if you need to leave)
- Do not leave hot utensils laying around the grill
- Don’t serve food directly off the grill (give grilled items a moment to rest & cool)
- Inform everyone if there are any particularly hot (high burn risk) items to eat
- Do not allow children to run or play around the grill
By being aware of these hazards and following the above precautions, you can do your part as a host (or guest) to avoid any burn injuries at your next cookout.
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Slip and Falls
Slip and falls are one of the most common kinds of personal injuries. They strike unexpectedly, without warning, anywhere, and everywhere.
Some slip and fall hazards that could be lurking around your barbecue include:
- Spilled condiments or food
- Childrens’ toys laying around
- Melted ice from your cooler or drink bucket
- Uneven patio tiles
- Outdoor rugs
All of these unassuming, subtle slip hazards can quickly ruin your cookout! In order to prevent catastrophe from striking, keep your eyes on the ground – especially near the grill! By doing periodic sweeps of the floor throughout the duration of your gathering, you can remove trip hazards and keep guests safe – all summer long.
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Food Poisoning
Preparing tasty food is an important part of any respectable cookout. Afterall, who wants to come over if the food is bad?
As discussed in the previous section on burns, it’s important to not serve food too hot and to let guests know if anything needs to cool before digging in. In a similar vein, it’s also important to avoid serving food raw.
Eating undercooked food is very serious and can potentially expose you to harmful bacteria and pathogens. If you aren’t careful, a raw burger or undercooked piece of chicken could end you or your guests in the hospital with salmonella.
In order to prevent food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses, it’s important to be thorough. Using a meat thermometer is a quick and easy way to check the internal temperature of what you’re cooking and ensure no one is getting undercooked meat. If you don’t have a thermometer, cutting into the center of a piece of meat is a great way to check the doneness of what you’re cooking.
In addition to serving thoroughly cooked meat, you should avoid cross contamination. Cross contamination refers to the transfer of bacteria or other microorganisms from one substance to another. This can happen at any stage of the food preparation process (from thawing meat to plating your final dish). Be sure to wash all utensils and cutting surfaces before and after coming into contact with raw meat, eggs, and other high-food-poisoning-risk foods.
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Alcohol
Alcohol is a catalyst for mischief and harm (as per usual). It impairs motor functions, slows reaction time, and clouds individuals’ reasonable decision making ability. It’s scary how quickly an uninhibited expression of pleasure can turn into pain, terror, and regret when alcohol is involved.
Aside from the inherent risks of alcohol through overconsumption, the way you behave while consuming alcohol is a real reason for concern. As mentioned above, alcohol causes you to act in ways you wouldn’t if you were sober. Too much alcohol can lead to very regrettable decisions being made. As a host, it’s wise to look out for your guests and make sure everyone knows their limits with alcohol. If anyone is getting belligerent or acting out of hand, it may be a good idea to limit their consumption politely.
With regard to drunk driving, event hosts (at residential locations) are typically not able to be held liable for accidents caused by their intoxicated guests. Exceptions do exist, however, such as when the event host serves alcohol negligently (like pouring drinks that are dangerously strong or if you fail to let guests know about the high alcohol content in the delicious punch you put out). Another case where hosts can be held liable is when underage drinking has taken place. If an underage individual drinks alcohol at a barbecue and gets into a car accident – the host of the barbecue can certainly be held liable!
Remember, there is no legal blood alcohol content (BAC) for underage drinkers. The BAC limit of 0.08% to drive only applies for individuals over the age of 21. If you’re under age, your BAC should exceed 0.00% – especially not behind the wheel.
Be a responsible host this summer and don’t let underage drinking happen under your watch!
Get David Get Paid
Getting hurt at a barbecue can be unexpected and life altering. If your injury happened as the result of someone else’s negligence, it’s important to seek the guidance of a trusted attorney, right away. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate hard-to-understand legal jargon, give you an idea of what your hardships are worth, and ultimately help you achieve compensation following an injury.
If you were recently injured and need help getting your life back on track, go with the trusted name for personal injuries – go with Femminineo Law. We can help you reclaim your life and feel whole once again.
Give us a call at 855-65-CRASH today for a free consultation or visit our website at getdavidgetpaid.com!
Get David, get paid.
