Home Q&A: How to enjoy a summer barbecue safely

To ensure everyone stays safe when you're barbecuing, first set up the cooking device correctly. Here is a safety checklist 

• Before you start, ensure the barbecue is in good working order.
• Find a place to set it up where the ground is flat, stable and away from sheds, fences, trees or overhanging shrubs, and not in a busy traffic path.
• Keep a bucket of sand or a small extinguisher close at hand, in case of emergencies.
• Using charcoal, cover the base of the barbecue — about 4cm to 5cm deep.
• Keep children away from the barbecue as you light it, and have a talk with younger ones about not going near the unit. 
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for lighting your barbecue.
• If it’s windy, ensure the wind is blowing away from your cooking position.
• Don’t wear loose clothing, or anything that could dangle onto the flames.
• Don’t ever apply flammable accelerants, such as paraffin or petrol,
• Never leave the barbecue unattended and don’t try to move it while it is lit.
• When you’ve finished cooking, don’t try to move the barbecue until it has cooled down completely. Empty good ashes onto garden soil or the compost heap.
• Be extremely vigilant where very young children are concerned.