NAHANT — With the Fourth of July holiday soon approaching, Nahant is reminding residents to stay safe when flipping those hamburgers and hot dogs.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, fire departments across the commonwealth respond to hundreds of fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues each year.
The Nahant Fire Department wanted to remind residents to always grill outdoors and to keep children and pets at least three feet away from grills. Children should also never play near grills or propane cylinders, and parents should make sure to keep all matches, lighters and lighter fluid away from their kids.
The National Fire Protection Association reports 19,700 patients make trips to emergency rooms due to grill fires every year. The association also noted that nearly 40 percent of contact-type burns involve children five years or younger.
The fire department wanted to remind Nahant residents that they should always remember, when operating a gas grill, to never leave a burning grill unattended; they should also make sure that the lid is open when lighting the grill, which ensures that the propane doesn’t build up and blow the lid off.
NFD also wanted to remind residents to turn off the burners and close the propane cylinders when they are done cooking and to not smoke while handling a propane cylinder. They should make sure to replace old propane cylinders and clean the grease trap every time a grill is used.
When using charcoal, residents should make sure to only use charcoal starter fluid and to grill in a well-ventilated area, due to charcoal briquettes emitting carbon monoxide gas.
On top of that, Deb Murphy, Nahant’s public health nurse, wants to remind residents that the COVID-19 virus is still looming out there — and it is especially threatening for younger populations.
Murphy noted that 77 percent of residents are vaccinated but there is still work to do in regards to younger populations who have yet to be vaccinated either by choice or due to the fact that they have simply been unable to yet. Murphy recommended that, when indoors or in crowds, those unvaccinated individuals should wear masks. She also reminded residents to not share drinks at gatherings.
This Fourth of July, make sure to stay safe — if it’s by social distancing or not sharing drinks or by paying attention next to the grill, it’s hard to celebrate America from a hospital bed.