Outdoor Grilling Safety

Outdoor Grilling Safety

The onset of warm weather signals the beginning of Barbecue Season!  The Asbury Park Fire Department wants you and your loved ones to enjoy this season SAFELY! Below are some tips from the National Fire Protection Association that he hopes will help:

 

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.
• Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets far away from grills: declare a three-foot "safe zone" around the grill.
• No grilling allowed on apartment or condo balconies! 
• With charcoal grills, only use charcoal starter fluids designed for barbecue grills and do not add fluid after coals have been lit.  NEVER use gasoline!
• With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection is tight and check hoses carefully for leaks.  Applying soapy water to the hoses will easily and safely reveal any leaks.
• All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overfill protection devices (OPD). OPDs shut off the flow off propane before capacity is reached. OPDS are easily identified by their triangle-shaped hand wheel.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and have the grill  repaired by a professional, if necessary.
• Remember to keep your grill clean!  Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.
• Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto grill and catch fire.
• REMEMBER!  Propane and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces, such as tents, they pose both a fire hazard and the risk of exposing occupants to toxic gases and potential asphyxiation.

Beach & Water Safety Tips

Beach & Water Safety Tips

 

Tragic water accidents happen quickly.

The most common reason for aquatic mishaps is a lack of safety knowledge.

The Asbury Park Fire Department recommends the following safety tips:

 



• Learn to swim
• Swim near a lifeguard
• Never swim alone
• Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present
• Don't rely on flotation devices, such as rafts, you may lose them in the water
• If caught in a rip current, swim sideways until free, don't swim against the current's pull
• Alcohol and swimming don't mix
• Protect your head, neck, and spine - don't dive into unfamiliar waters -feet first, first time 
• If you are in trouble, call or wave for help
• Swim parallel to shore if you wish to swim long distances
• SCUBA dive only if trained and certified - and within the limits of your training
• No glass containers at the beach - broken glass and bare feet don't mix
• No beach bon fires except in designated areas and a permit - fire residue and superheated sand can severely burn bare feet
• Report hazardous conditions to lifeguards or other beach management personnel
• Stay clear of jetty rocks, they are a major slip hazard

Never turn your back to the ocean -a you may be swept off your feet and into the water by waves that can come without warning.

 

Rip Currents

Rip currents are the most threatening natural hazard along our coast. They pull victims away from

the beach. The United States Lifesaving Association has found that 80% of the rescues effected by ocean lifeguards involve saving those caught in rip currents.

 

 

A rip current is a seaward moving current that circulates water back to sea after it is pushed ashore by waves. Each wave accumulates water on shore creating seaward pressure. This pressure is released in an area with the least amount of resistance which is usually the deepest point along the ocean floor. Rip currents also exist in areas where the strength of the waves are weakened by objects such as rock jetties, piers, natural reefs, and even large groups of bathers. Rip currents often look like muddy rivers flowing away from the shore.

 

Rip currents are sometimes mistakenly called "rip tides" or "undertows." These are misnomers. Rip currents are not directly associated with tides and they do not pull people under.

 

Try to avoid swimming where rip currents are present, but if you become caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until the pull stops and then swim back to shore. If you are unable to return to the beach, tread water and wave for a lifeguard assistance.

 

Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Rip currents often exist along the side of fixed objects in the water.