MALVERN, Pa., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- With summer in full swing,
so begins the season of backyard BBQs, kicking off with the
July 4th weekend. It's
vital that having a great time go hand in hand with having a safe
time. There are many commonly considered – and not-so-obvious –
dangers hosts and guests alike should be mindful of to avoid
spoiling the party.
"It's easy for you or your guests to focus on the fun and lose
sight of potential hazards," says Allstate Insurance Communication
Manager Tracey King. "But taking a
few precautions and keeping a watchful eye is a safe and smart way
to help keep the party going."
Allstate offers the following tips to prevent backyard BBQ
hazards:
GUEST SAFETY
Before the guests arrive, it is important to make the entire
home and yard party safe. Please consider the following
precautionary measures:
- Pay attention to hazards on the property that could take a
visitor by surprise, such as a hole in the ground or steep
steps.
- Erect barriers and/or warn people about any hazard to
avoid.
- Take special care of items on the property that may attract
children, such as a swimming pool, trampoline, or swing-set;
reinforce to guests that children must be accompanied by an adult
in order to enjoy the fun.
GRILLS
According to the United States
Fire Administration's (USFA) and the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), in 2003-2006 U.S. fire departments responded to
an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills per year. These
fires caused 120 injuries and $80
million in direct property damage.
Here are a few safety tips for grilling:
- Check grill for safety hazards. Gas connections should be
checked for leaks by applying a soapy water solution as bubbles
will form if gas is escaping. Damaged or corroded gas tanks should
be replaced and not used.
- Be careful when lighting grill. Only use charcoal lighter fluid
to light charcoal. Do not use gasoline, kerosene or any other
flammable or combustible liquid. In addition, the lighter fluid
should be used before lighting the charcoal – not while it is
burning.
- Don't leave a burning grill unattended. If the grill is on,
don't turn your back. Small children and pets should also be kept
away from the grilling area.
- Turn off the gas when not using the grill. After every use,
shut off the gas and store it in an outdoor location away from
where children play, out of direct sunlight and at least five feet
from any building openings at or below the level of the propane
tank.
SWIMMING POOLS
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),
about 260 children under the age of five drown in swimming pools
each year. More than 100 of the victims drown in other household
products such as bathtubs, spas, buckets and man-made landscape
ponds.
To help keep pools safe, many local government agencies require
the pool to be fenced with a latching gate. In addition to the
fences, pool owners should also consider creating as many
additional barriers as possible – such as door alarms, locks and
safety covers – to make it difficult for a child to get into the
pool area when not in use.
CPSC offers these additional tips to help prevent drowning
deaths:
- Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in
the pool first.
- Don't leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young
children
- Secure ladders on above-ground and inflatable pools when not in
use.
- Even if children can swim, it doesn't make them drown-proof.
Always supervise children.
- Even in inflatable pools, infants and toddlers should always be
within touching distance. These pools generally contain about 30
gallons of water.
- When an inflatable pool is not in use, drain the water and
deflate the pool.
- Follow the layers of protection (i.e. barriers and fences) rule
with large inflatable pools.
- Know CPR. Be prepared to rescue a child with life saving
techniques if necessary.
TRAMPOLINES
Trampoline injuries have been on the rise for more than a decade
now. The CPSC estimates that more than 100,000 injuries associated
with trampolines – 88 percent of which involved children under the
age of 18 - occurred in 2008.
Here are the steps you can take to help prevent serious
trampoline injuries:
- Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.
- Due to risk of paralysis, do not attempt or allow
somersaults.
- Ensure spring, hooks and frame is completely covered with
shock-absorbing pads.
- Place the trampoline away from structures, trees, and other
play areas.
- No child under 6 years of age should use a full-size
trampoline. Do not use a ladder with the trampoline because it
provides unsupervised access by small children.
- Always supervise children who use a trampoline.
- Trampoline enclosures can help prevent injuries from falls off
trampolines.
While taking these steps will help keep your guests safe,
adequate protection against liability may require the purchase of
an Umbrella Policy. Umbrella insurance is designed to give
consumers added liability protection above and beyond the limits on
homeowners, auto, and watercraft personal insurance policies.
Should something happen on your property, report it immediately to
your insurance company – even if it is unknown whether or not a
claim is going to be made.
If you have questions about your coverage prior to your backyard
BBQ, Allstate advises that you contact your insurance agent for
more details.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the
"You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate
is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17
million households insure what they have today and better prepare
for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto,
home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies,
independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial
representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
Contact:
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Chris Conner
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610.251.3094
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chris.conner@allstate.com
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SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company