Many of us associate summertime with being outside. We hang out on the beach. We take our bicycles out of hibernation. We even eat outside.

Barbecues are a popular summer pastime across the country. However, they are also a common source of injury—or even death. Nationwide, barbecue fires injure 7,000 people each year.

If you’re firing up the grill this weekend, it’s important to take the right safety precautions to keep your gathering safe. In today’s post, we provide some useful safety tips for your barbecue:

• SeparateKeep your grill a safe distance from people and objects around and above it. Make sure you set up your grill at least 10 feet from your house or garage. Guests and pets should also maintain a safe distance from the grill. In addition, make sure there are no flammable objects—trees, hanging flower pots, party decorations—hanging above the grill.
• SuperviseAs long as the grill is hot, you need to be in close enough proximity to keep an eye on it. Grill fires commonly start after the food has been cooked—when an unattended, hot grill is left too close to something flammable.
• Open
• Never operate a grill of any size in an enclosed area—e.g., a house, tent or camper. Besides being a serious fire hazard, the carbon monoxide such devices release can be lethal to people and pets. In addition, when operating a gas grill, always keep the lid open when lighting it. In an enclosed space, the build-up of gas could ignite into a fireball.

When you invite guests over for a cook-out, you have a responsibility to keep them safe. Follow these guidelines to help ensure your barbecue is a happy occasion.