Grilling
- Don’t leave food unattended
- The grill should be placed away from the home, definitely not next to the outside of the home and away from overhangs and branches
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and or a spray bottle of water nearby for flare ups
- Clean your grill regularly, grease and fat from foods are a major cause of flare ups
- Never let children near the grill. Remember, it can remain very hot even after it is no longer being used.
Food Poisoning
Summertime offers so many gorgeous days for picnicking and cookouts. But don’t let the heat ruin your outing — food-borne illnesses are caused by bacteria and viruses Food-borne illness looks a lot like the flu, and typically includes nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.
One of the best ways to avoid food poisoning during the summertime is to be sure food items that contain mayonnaise, milk, eggs, meat, poultry and seafood aren’t kept at room temperature for more than an hour or two (one hour max if it’s 90 degrees F outside). If you’re traveling with food, be sure to pack any raw meat separately from ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.
When grilling be sure to check the internal temperature of foods on the grill, to be sure everything has been cooked appropriately. If picnicking outdoors, avoid leaving out foods that require refrigeration and/or foods that can quickly spoil.
Lightning
The best defense is to avoid lightning tips that can help you avoid being struck:
Do
- Be aware Check the weather forecast before participating in outdoor activities. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your activity, or make sure adequate safe shelter is readily available.
- Go indoors Remember the phrase, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up.
- Crouch close to the ground and separate If you are caught in an open area, crouch down in a ball-like position so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground. Do NOT lie down. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away. Crouching down is the best combination of being low and touching the ground as little as possible.
- Separate If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.
Don’t
- Stay in open vehicles, structures, and spaces During a thunderstorm, avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts. And stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches.
- Stay near tall structures Do NOT lie on concrete floors during a thunderstorm. Also, avoid leaning on concrete walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
