Enjoy your BBQ in safety

	Barbecues can be great fun but should always be enjoyed in safety. Follow our advice below to ensure your barbeque isn't memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Eat safely

• Defrost meat in the refrigerator before cooking and keep it there until needed.
• Keep food cool, covered and off the ground. 
• Make sure your pets are kept well away.
• Light the barbecue well in advance and make sure the coals are glowing red (with a powdery grey surface) before starting to cook.
• If possible, pre-cook all poultry in the microwave oven or traditional cooker, then take it straight to the barbecue to finish it off.
• Wash your hands often, especially after handling raw food.
• Eat the food as soon as it is ready.
• Throw away all the perishable food that has been left outside for more than a couple of hours.

Burns . . . Do the right thing

• Place the injury under cold running water for at least 10 minutes.
• Cover burns with a clean, dry, lint free cloth.
• Get Medical help for a burn larger than a 10p coin.

Caution! Do not . . .

• pull away clothing stuck to skin.
• put butter or grease on a burn.
• apply ointment, antiseptic, disinfectants or lotion on a burn.
• use sticking plaster on the area of a burn.
• break or burst blisters.