STORY BY

Karen Krakower Kaplan
& Phil Montgomery

Once upon a time in a city park, two cousins prepared to grill a couple of steaks, but they encountered a small problem. They had charcoal, but no charcoal starter fluid. "Let's use gasoline," said one to the other. So, after a round of high-fives they sloshed unleaded gasoline over the briquettes and struck a match.

Exploding gasoline makes a "crump" noise like a giant trash compactor slamming down on a 50-gallon drum of bubble wrap. Flames shoot into the air, curling eyebrows and inspiring such fleeting thoughts as "using gasoline to cook lunch is a dumb idea."

Safe barbecuing relies upon simple common sense, but let’s face it–we're all just grown-up kids playing with fire when we cook burgers over an open flame—which is part of the fun, but sometimes people do get hurt. Whether your grilling pit is powered by lighter fluid or propane, fire is fire. Know the dangers (and how to use a fire extinguisher.)

Charcoal grills

Burn, obviously, is the most common injury resulting from grilling outdoors, says Brent King, MD, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "Over-feeding your charcoal fire with starter fluid that then flares up is a common mistake people make,” King says. Especially if you’re standing too close in the first place, you’ve created opportunity for burn. And if the fluid splashes on your clothes, you could ignite yourself as well.

The best way to avoid burns is to use common sense, says Lon Babcock, a board member of the International Barbeque Cookers Association and a founder of the local Texas Gulf Coast Barbeque Association. He recommends a few safety tips for backyard grilling:

• First, use a charcoal starter chimney or tube, which starts a charcoal fire by burning paper rather than lighter fluid. These safe, inexpensive devices can be found in stores that carry outdoor grills and barbecue equipment.
• Do not spray charcoal lighter fluid on an open flame or hot coals.
• Avoid big fires. Burn just enough fuel to cook your food.
• Park your grill away from your house.
• Use hot pads or insulated gloves when touching hot metal.
• Do not drink alcohol while cooking on an outdoor grill. "Finish the cooking before drinking," Babcock says. "It's like drinking and driving. Your decision-making gets real slow."

Babcock also warns against cooks spraying charcoal starting fluid on wood or charcoal and immediately closing the grill lid before starting the fire. "They've just created a bomb," he says from personal experience.

Once while preparing his barbecue, he sprayed charcoal starter fluid on the wood and closed the lid. Then he fussed with the meat before remembering to light the grill. Fumes had filled the inside of the hood. Then, he lifted the lid and tossed in a match.

"Well, it blew up," Babcock said. "I got burnt from my toenails to the top of my head." Babcock says he then stood in a cold shower for about an hour. "It hurt."

Propane grills

“The good news about propane is that you can turn it off—and quickly,” says Robert “Safety Bob” Emery, Dr. PH., assistant vice president for safety, health, environment & risk management at UT Health Science Center at Houston. “The bad news is, if you don’t attach the propane tank correctly you can have leaks at the junctures which can turn into flames.”

And since older models don’t come with fuel gauges to inform the grill chief when the second- to-last cooked hotdog is on deck, people tend to store a spare tank, “which can be dangerous,” Emery warns. “If you’ve ever gone to change out your empty cylinder, you’ll notice that the hardware stores generally keep them outside—for a reason. Propane tanks need to be stored in well-ventilated areas, not hot, closed garages in summer.”

King pitches another classic scenario of profaning the propane: A person turns on the propane flow and then attempts to light the grill.  But, the flame takes its sweet time to appear and gas accumulates around the burners. Just as you bend down to get a closer look at your misbehaving pit, “the grill ignites, leading to a flare-up and seriously singed eyebrows.”

Both King and Emery liken the propane canister to a bomb and urge grillers to respect both the cooking surface and the gas connections.

The Barbecue Industry Association estimates that at least three billion barbecue events take place each year among the estimated 75 million households that own grills, based on its 1999 industry survey. Of those households, 60 percent own propane gas grills.

Propane Grill DOs

• Follow all of the grill manufacturer's instructions and keep written materials and manuals in a safe, accessible place.
• When not in use, make sure all grill burner controls are turned off and that the valve cylinder is closed.
• Keep grill covered when not in use. Make sure the grill is shut off and cooled off before covering.
• Always use or store cylinders outdoors in an upright position.
• When you fill or exchange your cylinder, have your supplier check for dents, damage, rust or leaks.
• Before lighting your propane gas grill burner, use a leak-detection solution to check all connections for tightness.
• If there is an uncontrollable release of gas or a fire, call the fire department immediately and move all people and pets away from the unit.
• If you experience difficulties in the operation of your gas grill, contact your local propane provider for service.

Propane Grill DON’Ts:

• Do not smoke while handling the propane cylinder.
• Do not allow children to tamper or play with the cylinder or grill.
• Do not use, store or transport your cylinder where it would be exposed to high temperatures. (This includes storing spare cylinders under or near the grill.)
• DON'T POP FIREWORKS NEAR ANY PROPANE TANKS.

Burns and treatment

First-degree burns, the least serious, are those where only the outer layer of skin turns red. There may be some swelling and pain. A first-degree burn is usually considered a minor burn unless it involves substantial parts of the extremities, the groin, buttocks or a large joint area. To treat minor burns, hold the burn under cool running water for about 15 minutes or immerse the burn in cool water or use a cool cloth. Cover the burn with a loose, sterile gauze bandage.

"If the skin blisters then it is more than a first degree burn." The patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately. For "meanwhile" first-aid, do not grab the butter off the picnic table and slather it on, no matter what your grandmother instructs. A cool wet towel or ice pack will offer some relief, but the burn victim should still see a health professional.

King says that most first and even some second-degree burns can be managed at home by applying an icepack  for a few minutes, followed by a burn dressing: an over the counter antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage.

If grease or another sticky, hot substance (melted plastic comes to mind...) is attached to the skin, it should be scraped off immediately and then rinsed with cool running water, King advises.

Keep burns clean while they heal with simple soap and water and antibiotic ointment. If blisters do develop, do not pop them.

When to get help

Second-degree burns occur when the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer is injured. The skin blisters, turning very red and splotchy. The victim will suffer severe pain and swelling. Consult a health care provider immediately.

Third-degree burns are life-threatening, even if the area seems small. All tissue including muscle and bone may be damaged. Shock may set in and breathing may be impaired. Call 911 or emergency medical assistance immediately.

“Any second-degree or worse burn on your hands, face or feet that is large or potentially disfiguring should be managed by a burn specialist,” King says. Though a couple of minor-burned fingers may hurt, they can be managed at home, “but a whole hand should receive attention.”

For burns on the rest of the body, here is the rule to memorize: the palm of the hand represents about one percent of the body surface area. If a burn is larger than one percent, go to the ER, King advises.

Regardless of the degree of burn, follow these important tips:

• Take off all rings, belts, shoes or tight clothing at the burn site, before swelling sets in.
• Do not rip off clothing that is stuck to the burned skin site. Leave it in place and seek medical care.
• A burn is deemed critical, regardless of its "degree" if it covers more than one body part or covers an area roughly the size of the palm of a hand (one percent of the total body surface.)
• Do not apply butter or oils to burns.

Last Updated: 5-20-2009

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