- Never bring a charcoal grill inside a tent.Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
According to a 2010 article published in Consumer Reports, the National Fire Protection Agency reports an average of 7,900 grill related fires per year. And if the risk of a fire weren't enough, charcoal grills also increase the likelihood of injury or death due to carbon monoxide poisoning. A working knowledge of the hazards associated with using a charcoal grill is the first step to preventing accidents like these. - Perhaps the most obvious hazard associated with using a charcoal grill is the risk of spreading the fire to other parts of your home or yard. To prevent accidents, never leave your charcoal grill unattended for more than a few minutes at a time. If the food on the grill catches fire, remember that water only spreads a grease fire. Instead, simply close the lid of the grill and allow the fire to burn out. For more severe fires, keep a bucket of sand nearby, and use it to smother the fire if necessary. If you notice a small fire, try scooting the coals at the base of the fire apart so they will lose heat. Always stay with your charcoal grill until the coals are no longer hot.
- Burns are another hazard closely associated with the use of charcoal grills. While charcoal grills may require a small amount of starter fluid to start properly, always apply the lighter fluid to the coals before you light the fire. Adding starter fluid to an existing fire may cause the fire to travel off the stream of fluid and into the can, causing the can to explode. An accident like this may cause severe injury to the person adding the fluid. Before you operate a charcoal grill, tie your hair back securely, and ensure that your clothing is free from long sleeves, dangling scarves and other items that may catch fire quickly.
- By far, carbon monoxide causes the largest number of deaths related to charcoal grills. In August of 1999, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report listed six cases where campers were killed by carbon monoxide inhalation after bringing a charcoal grill inside a zipped tent to keep warm. Even if the fire inside the grill has been extinguished, the hot coals continue to give off a dangerous level of carbon monoxide gas. Not only is this gas colorless, odorless and tasteless, the only symptoms of poisoning are headache, dizziness and nausea, making carbon monoxide poisoning especially difficult to identify. To use a charcoal grill safely, never operate it indoors or inside the garage, even with good ventilation, and never bring a hot grill inside or use it for heat while camping.
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