And you thought safe grilling ended with not using a deep fat fryer for the turkey on Thanksgiving, right?  Well, it seems there's a bit more to it.  The weather is beginning to warm up all over the U.S. and the trend is beginning to be toward grilling food outside on the weekends--maybe even during the week if you're like our family. Grilling is a wonderful way to prepare food for the family and it's fun... usually. 

It's not fun when it's not a safe experience, and SafeKids has just circulated a list of tips that we can't improve on, so we'd like to share them with you as a gift for Mother's Day--I don't think SafeKids will mind as long as we give them the credit for these great tips, help them spread the word about Grilling Safely. And, if you incorporate these great ideas into your grilling regimen, we will all feel better about grilling for the family in general, so here they are:

Top Grill Safety Tips

• Grills should only be used outdoors and at least 10 feet away from a house or any building.
• Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire.
• The grill should be placed well away from deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Children and pets should stay away from the grill area.
• Grills should be kept clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grill itself and in the trays below the grill.
• Never leave a grill unattended. Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames away from the grill.

Charcoal grills

• If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the lit fire.
• Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
• Since charcoal produces CO (carbon monoxide) fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.
• Store charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.

Gas Grill

• Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating a gas grill
• If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed."

            We hope you agree that these tips are great. We do. And there's one more that goes with every activity with kids: Whatever you are doing, watch your children; they grow up quickly. Make sure they grow up safely!