Top Five Life Threatening Consequences of Summer Grilling

Finnish Grill food
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To many, summer is synonymous with grilling and though this is a relatively harmless activity, it can cause the following five potentially life threatening complications:

1. Summer grilling can cause internal bleeding
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recently sent out a warning after several patients in a Rhode Island hospital suffered injuries after ingesting fragments of steel bristles from wire grill cleaning brushes.

These steel fragments break off from the brush being used to clean the grill, stick to the grill grate and cling to the food being cooked before entering the digestive system of the person eating the “steel burgers”.

These steel burgers can cause severe pain, internal bleeding and can even get stuck to the esophagus (gullet) or intestines necessitating a visit to the operating room for surgical removal.

To prevent this summer hazard of eating “steel steaks”, simply clean your grill with nylon scrubbers instead of bristled brushes and wipe the clean grill with a wet cloth before you begin cooking.

[Philippine Day] BBQ
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2. Summer grilling can cause food poisoning
Food poisoning can develop from eating grilled steaks, chicken, and burgers which have not been thoroughly cooked.

To prevent being poisoned by grilled food, use a meat thermometer and make sure that the temperature inside the meats reaches 160 degrees F. If you are not able to use a thermometer, ensure that the juices flowing from the grilled meats is clear and not any of the numerous shades of pink and red.



3. Summer grilling can cause cancer
Grilled food that is charred can increase a person's risk of developing cancer of the stomach and colon because of the HCAs (heterocyclic amines) that are formed.

To prevent the formation of these cancer causing agents, ensure that the grilled food is not charred or marinade the meats before grilling with lemon, vinegar or rosemary as they reduce the HCAs.
  
Grilling
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4. Summer grilling can cause grill burns
Grill burns, which can range from minor scalds to major third degree burns with permanent disfigurement, are common summer accidents which can mar not just the summer, but a person's entire life.

To prevent grill burns always examine the tubes for food particles, grease, insects or anything else that might block them. If you see anything suspicious, use a pipe cleaner to remove it before you start grilling.

If you use non-stick cooking sprays, always spray them before lighting the grill. Should you for any reason feel the need to use an aerosol spray as you grill, ensure that you are at least 10 feet away from the grill so that you do not burn yourself with the blowtorch effect.
Grill on the patio II
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5. Summer grilling can burn down houses
Summer grilling parties have been known to start hours fires that destroyed property and injured people.

To keep your home safe ensure that the grill is at least 10 feet away from your house, garage, porch or anything that is potentially flammable. 

In addition, always ensure that you have a bucket of sand nearby just in case something other than the charcoal catches fire.