On the islands, many people enjoy meeting with friends and family and cooking delicious food on the barbecue. Unfortunately, that sometimes leads to problems: barbecues can cause fires and people can be burned. There are various types of barbecue: electric, gas and (compressed) charcoal. Whichever type you use: a barbecue can start a fire, so make sure you barbecue safely. Thankfully there are many things you can do yourself to prevent fire. Here are some tips for barbecuing safely and what to do if something goes wrong.
1 Do you BBQ safely?
2 BBQs are meant to be used outdoors. Even if rain threatens to ruin your party, leave the BBQ outside.
3 Placing a BBQ inside is extremely dangerous. The smoke from a BBQ contains a high concentration of carbon monoxide, which is toxic. If you BBQ inside, the toxic smoke can stay in the air and make you ill. In serious cases it can even kill you. So always leave your BBQ outside.
4 There are various types of barbecue: electric, gas and (compressed) charcoal. Whichever type you use, a barbecue can start a fire. Thankfully there are many things you can do yourself to prevent fire.
5
Tip 1: Place the BBQ at a safe distance from fences, hedges, (party) tents, garden furniture etc.
Tip 2: Don’t move the BBQ while it is hot.
Tip 3: Keep children and pets away from the BBQ.
Tip 4: It’s always a good idea to keep something you can use to put out fire close by, such as a bucket of sand or water.
Tip 5: To protect yourself against splashes and sparks, it’s better not to barbecue with a bare torso. Wear clothing that can’t easily catch fire.
Tip 6: Are you planning to BBQ on the beach? Then make sure you always use a BBQ rather than cooking in the sand.
Tip 7: Don’t throw the ash away too soon. The ash can still smoulder and cause fire, for example in a waste bin.
6 Use your BBQ safely. For more barbecue tips, check out www.rijksdienstcn.com.
Tips
- Place the BBQ at a safe distance from fences, hedges, (party) tents, garden furniture etc.
- Don’t move the BBQ while it is hot.
- Keep children and pets away from the BBQ.
- It’s always a good idea to keep something you can use to put out fire close by, such as a bucket of sand or water.
- Wear clothing that can’t easily catch fire. It will protect you from splashes and sparks.
- Are you planning to BBQ on the beach? Then make sure you always use a BBQ rather than cooking in the sand.
- Don’t throw the ash away too soon. The ash can still smoulder and cause fire, for example in a waste bin.
Checklists
- Check the date on the gas bottle.
- Check the gas hose for holes.
- Keep the gas bottle upright.
- Light the barbecue as soon as you have opened the gas valve.
- Watch out for rain. Water and electricity together can cause short circuits.
- Check the heating element regularly for rust and wear.
- Place the barbecue on a flat surface.
- Be careful with highly flammable clothing.
- Keep a bucket of water or sand close by.
- Make sure children and pets keep away from the barbecue.
- Cover with sand or extinguish with water after use.
What if something still goes wrong?
- Cool the burns. Hold the burned area under lukewarm running water for at least 10 minutes.
- Only cool the burned areas. Make sure the victim does not become too cold.
- Don’t tear away clothing that has stuck to the burn. Keep this area wet. It’s better not to use seawater.
- Avoid touching the wound and always leave blisters whole.
- Don’t rub anything into second-degree and third-degree burns, even burn cream.
- Cover the burns with a clean bandage or cloth that is sterile or as clean as possible. This will limit spreading of the wounds and infection.
- Use a non-adhesive bandage if possible (e.g. a Metalline dressing).
- Do not give victims with serious burns anything to drink.
- Always call an ambulance for second-degree and third-degree burns. Not sure whether the injuries are second-degree or third-degree burns? Consult your general practitioner.
- Try to put out the fire with an extinguisher or other means, such as a bucket of sand or water.
- If you are unable to put out the fire, keep a safe distance and call the fire service.
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