Be barbecue aware (From This Is Wiltshire)

Be barbecue aware

12:09pm Sunday 11th May 2008 in

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With the arrival of warm, sunny weather, barbecues are selling like hot cakes (or should that be coals?) at DIY stores across the country.

But before you crack open a can of lager and bung on some sausages, make sure you're not setting you and your family up for a major emergency.

"In a hot summer around 1,400 people in the UK will go to hospital as a result of barbecue accidents," says Roger Vincent, a spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

"A lot of these will be minor burns, but there can be more serious incidents. There have been some horrendous cases over the years of people using petrol or meths to get the barbecue going, which then blows right up," he warns.

Being safe is not about putting the dampeners on a fun family afternoon or a get-together with friends, but making sure you are not too relaxed about the basics.

"Barbecues should be great fun and hopefully it will be a great summer.

We want people to enjoy themselves, but also follow some simple safety guidelines," says Roger.

"A lot of it is common sense, but the main one to take note of is not using petrol. But also, make sure your barbecue is stable - if you bang into it and knock it over then you could have a problem."

He adds: "Spend your afternoon in the garden, not the hospital."

BBQ SAFETY GUIDELINES

• Check over your equipment.

"Last year we had that wet summer, so many people won't have used their barbecues for a long time. It's therefore especially important to check that it's in a good condition," says Roger Vincent of RoSPA.

"If it's not in good mechanical order, it could collapse and you'll be left with red hot coals all over your feet."

• Follow the instructions.

There are many different types of barbecue on the market, so don't assume you know how they all work. It's very important to read through and follow the instructions as no two barbecues are the same. "Use it the way it should be used," stresses Roger.

• Position it correctly.

Don't place the barbecue next to a fence or shed, or anything else that could ignite. It should be placed on stable, firm ground, somewhere it is not going to topple over.

• Never use flammable liquid such as petrol or meths to light a barbecue.

If you want to use preparatory barbecue lighters follow the instructions to the letter. Roger says: "The problem is often the changeable weather that we have in this country. It might be a bit damp or a bit wet, and you haven't got the barbecue ready in time. The guests are arriving and you panic and think, 'I'll chuck some petrol on, that will get it going'. Don't do it."

• Use the right tools.

Keep some oven gloves by the barbecue and use them, and make sure you have wooden-handled tools appropriate to the job.

• Supervise all children.

You must take care that children do not play anywhere near the barbecue - not just while you are cooking but for the remainder of the day.

"Bear in mind that the coals will be extremely hot even hours after you've finished using it. You could be relaxing with a glass of wine, or chatting to your neighbour over the fence, while a child clatters into the barbecue and knocks it down," says Roger.

TREATING MINOR BURNS

NHS Direct offers the following advice for treating minor burns as a result of barbecue accidents:

• It is essential to apply appropriate first aid to any burns as soon as possible, to limit the extent of the damage. You may need to do this for yourself, or for someone else.

• It is very important to stop the burning process as soon as possible.

This may mean removing the person from the area, dousing flames with water, or smothering their body with a blanket to put out any flames.

However, do not put yourself at risk of getting burned as well.

• Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area of skin, but do not try to remove anything that is stuck to the burned skin as this could cause more damage.

• Cool the burn with cool or tepid water for 10-30 minutes, ideally within 20 minutes of the injury happening. Never use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances, such as butter.

• Make sure that the person keeps warm, with a blanket or layers of clothing (avoiding the injured area). This is necessary when you are cooling a large area of skin because there is a risk of hypothermia, particularly in children and the elderly.

• Cover the burn using cling film, in a layer over the burn rather than wrapping it around a limb. A clean, clear plastic bag is suitable for burns on your hand.

• Superficial burns will normally heal in around 14 days, and leave minimal scarring.

• The pain from a burn can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Always check the packaging for the correct dosage.