One and Co

One and Co

Archives for December 2021

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What Not to Do When Fostering Children

Fostering a child is an enormous responsibility. After all, you’re taking someone else’s child into your home, and you need to make sure they are comfortable, safe, and well looked after. Becoming a foster parent isn’t just about having a spare room; it’s about genuinely wanting to help kids who have come from unsafe home environments.

To do this well, make sure you avoid these mistakes when fostering children.

Not Use the Support Available

As a foster parent, you should seek the help of your foster agency when necessary. Otherwise, a small problem could turn into a large one. As soon as you have an issue or a question, get in contact with your social worker for appropriate direction and to prevent the problem from escalating. By fostering in Yorkshire, you will have all the support you could need as a foster parent.

Forget About Rules

You might think that being lenient with rules is best for kids who’ve been through something traumatic, but the opposite is true. Forgetting to place and enforce rules will leave foster kids without routine, stability, and responsibility – three things that are crucial for their growth. Be sure to establish rules soon after foster kids enter your home and reinforce them when necessary.

Make Empty Promises

Don’t make any promises to your foster children that you cannot keep. Don’t tell them that you’ll take them abroad, that you’ll buy them an expensive gift, or that you will adopt them unless plans are one-hundred-percent in place. It could lead to a disappointed, upset child who will never trust your word again.

Hold Expectations

When you are assigned a foster kid, you do not meet them until they come into your home. There is simply no time for that. That is why you must not hold expectations before they arrive. Don’t expect them to be talkative, quiet, talented, affectionate – anything! All children are different and all are worthy of care and attention. By holding no expectations, you’ll become a more open-minded, caring foster parent.

Be a Pushover

Many of the children you will foster will have gone through truly difficult challenges. That doesn’t mean they should get away with everything, though – this will only lead to worse behavior down the road. Be strong and stick to your word, and your foster children will respect you more. For example, if you say no to chocolate before dinner, don’t change your mind because of pleading.

Take on More than You Can Handle

When meeting with your social worker, you will come to an agreement that suits you. It’s crucial not to overestimate how many foster kids or what type of emergencies you can handle. Be realistic, and you’ll have an easier time being an excellent foster parent to the right kid.

Co-Sleep

Lastly, you should not co-sleep with your foster kid. They must have their own room with their own bed where they sleep. It is a commonly made mistake, so it’s important to know beforehand that co-sleeping is something you must avoid.

 

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How to Keep the Cost of Pet Care Down

Pets are wonderful companions, but taking care of them can really make a dent in your finances! Here are some tips on how to keep the cost of caring for your pets to a minimum without sacrificing their health and wellbeing.

Prevention is better than cure

This may sound fairly obvious, but the first step in keeping the cost of pet care down is taking every possible step you can to prevent your pets from getting sick. This includes feeding them a varied and nutritious diet, limiting the amount of treats you give them, and ensuring that they get plenty of exercises. Dogs need at least half an hour of exercise a day, but depending on your dog’s breed and age, they might need a lot more than that—even upwards of two hours. A slow walk is not enough, either: dogs need to be running around multiple times a day. Remember that cats need plenty of exercises, too: particularly if your cat lives only indoors, get them a cat tree and lots of stimulating toys and make sure to play plenty of games with your cat to keep them fit and healthy.

Choose your vet carefully

Veterinarian practices can have wildly different price ranges, and when you are shopping around for a vet, you should ask yourself why a certain practice is more expensive than another. Does the cheaper vet compromise on safety and hygiene, or is the more expensive one simply catering for high-end clients with money to burn? Ask the vet what services they offer, too: this Knoxville vet clinic, for example, keeps prices affordable by offering all routine pet care services such as vaccinations, nutritional advice, and pest prevention, and by ‘outsourcing’ rarer and more complicated treatments such as major surgery. If your pets are healthy, there’s no point in paying through the roof for services you likely won’t need.

Cook pet food at home

Making your own pet food at home can be much cheaper than buying dedicated pet food due to the high cost of wet food. You obviously need to make sure that your pet is getting a balanced diet and the right amount of calories, so tell your vet that you are thinking of making pet food at home and run some recipes past them to make sure that you are on the right track. If you have been buying pet food up until now, think about the most commonly used ingredients and incorporate those in your pet’s new diet; dogs, for instance, need a high amount of lean protein such as lean beef, turkey, and lentils, as well as whole grains such as brown rice and vegetables such as carrots and broccoli. Resist the temptation to simply serve your pet a portion of the meals you prepare for yourself, as some very commonly used human foods can be extremely harmful to other animals—these include onion and garlic for both cats and dogs.

 

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5 Home Upgrades That Will Improve Your Quality of Life

When we think of making our homes better, we often think about the aesthetic side of things, and while new decor, peel-and-stick-wallpaper and a fancy new TV are great, there are some aspects of your home that are less glamorous, but still make a huge difference. On a day-to-day basis, there are certain things you can add to your home life and make things more efficient, make your life easier or even contribute to improved physical or mental health. There are many things we can use nowadays, including technology and apps that really take away some of our headaches and allow us to focus our mental energy on other things. Here are 5 home upgrades that will make your life better.

Water Filtration System

We often overlook it, but water is probably one of the most important resources in our homes. From cleaning to staying hydrated, water is something we come in contact with a lot, and the quality of this water really does matter. Installing a water filtration system is one of the ways to improve your quality of life. Very often the water that comes from our taps needs a little bit of an extra clean and filtering which will improve a lot about it. A modern filtration system uses a process called reverse osmosis to improve your water. You might be asking how does reverse osmosis work? Reverse osmosis happens when pressure is used on a highly concentrated solution, contaminated water, forcing the solution through a membrane to a lower-concentrated solution, uncontaminated water. This leaves you with two solutions of water: one that is filled with contaminants that will wash away down the drain, the other is clean water that’s ready for consumption. It will save money, give you better tasting water and make you and your family healthier.

Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Keeping a clean house is very difficult when you’re busy with work and other responsibilities, but there are ways you can leverage technology to make this a lot easier. One home upgrade that will improve your quality of life is a robot vacuum cleaner. This amazing gadget will roam your home on its own cleaning up any dust, dirt or pet hairs. Many of these vacuum cleaners also come with mops so they can also wipe the floors without you having to do anything. You can actually leave this thing running while you’re at work or out for the day, and this gadget will be able to avoid obstructions and give you a spotless home without you needing to spend hours cleaning.

Grocery Shopping Helper

Imagine this scenario: you’re on your way home from work and you decide to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things. As soon as you get to the store, you realize that you didn’t make a list of what you need to get, and now you don’t know what you actually need. Well, imagine if you had a handy little gadget that could allow you to see what’s in your fridge from your phone? The grocery assistant is a camera that you place in your refrigerator, and you can connect to it remotely and quickly see what’s missing, making your grocery shopping a lot easier.

Meal Boxes

If you’re a person with a really busy schedule, one of the biggest challenges is making nutritious meals on a daily basis, and that’s why people often end up resorting to easy junk food. On the other hand, you could buy groceries, but if you don’t end up cooking everything and using all the ingredients, it just ends up as waste. These don’t have to be your only options though. You can sign up for a meal kit subscription and actually save money. These subscriptions will send you the ingredients you need for a few meals, with the instructions for preparing the meal and no extras or excess product so there’s no waste. You can choose no-meat meals, fancier meals or if you’re watching your weight, lower calorie options. You’ll save time, money and still get to enjoy delicious food!

Mattress

If there’s one thing we often overlook that impacts our quality of life, it’s the mattresses we sleep on. The quality of our mattresses affect how we sleep, and that affects every area of our lives. When we sleep well, we feel better, have more energy, our posture is a lot better and we’re just healthier. Investing in a quality mattress is really important, and instead of using something old with bad springs, get a modern mattress that will give you quality sleep for years to come. How do you know if your mattress is due for a replacement? If it’s starting to sag, bulge and lose its shape, it’s time to make a change.

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How to Make the Perfect Chicken Parmigiana – Javier Burillo

Chef Javier Burillo has some classic Italian dishes so easy to make that even an amateur can pull it off.

Chicken Parmigiana

This Italian favorite reminds us of home-cooked meals from our mothers. It has tasty layers of eggplant, tomato, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Topped with a thick layer of bread crumbs makes it even better!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 kilogram chicken fillet, cut into strips 1-inch wide and 1 inch long
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 3 medium-sized eggplants, cut into 1-inch slices

Sauce:

  • 1 large tomato, cut in wedges with seeds and pulp removed. Reserve the inside part of the tomato as we will use it for stuffing. If only using the outside part of the tomato, dice it finely.
  • 1 medium onion, chopped finely
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional) 6 tablespoons olive oil

Mozzarella Cheese:

  • 1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese or smoked mozzarella cheese (you can use cheddar or any other type of cheese you like)

Preparation:

1. Season the chicken with salt and set it aside.

2. Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a pan over medium heat until hot.

3. Dip the eggplants into boiled water to prevent them from getting brown, then fry in batches until golden brown.

4. In a separate pan, heat 4 tablespoons of oil and sauté onions until translucent, then add the garlic and tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder (optional). Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Strain off any excess liquids in the sauce to avoid it being too runny or oily.

5. Now, prepare the mozzarella by cutting it into 4 parts. Next, cut a thick slice off one of the pieces to create a lid for your cheese mound.

6. Take another part and cut it lengthwise into 2 halves, then cut each piece in half horizontally to get 4 thick slices–you are dividing each piece into 8 strips. Season the mozzarella with salt and pepper, then stuff each end of your eggplant shell using strips lengthwise, so it resembles lace, alternating one long strip with 2 short strips.

7. Dip the stuffed eggplants into beaten eggs to moisten all sides, then dredge in bread crumbs. If you use smoked mozzarella, you can skip this step.

8. Fry the stuffed eggplants in batches until golden brown on all sides, then set aside.

9. In a baking tray, place a thin layer of sauce at the bottom and place your fried eggplant shells over it (make sure to stuff the open end first before putting them together). Then spoon some sauce on top of each eggplant shell.

10. Take the chicken strips and layer it over the eggplants, then spoon more sauce over them. Add another layer of eggplants on top, followed by some more sauce if needed. Finally, sprinkle some more bread crumbs if you like your dish to be nice and crunchy or cheese if desired.

11. Bake at 180°C or 350°F for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with white rice and salad on the side. Makes 2 servings.

 

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Los Angeles Medical Malpractice – bruce g. fagel

LA residents have a lot of choices when it comes to medical malpractice attorneys (like bruce g. fagel), but what should you expect from your attorney? So what do you want from your medical malpractice lawyer?

Some suggestions:

The first step in hiring an effective medical malpractice lawyer is selecting a law firm with experience and knowledge within the field. They must be well-versed in the laws, practices, and procedures necessary to take on a medical malpractice case.

You should be looking for a law firm that is well-respected by its colleagues and peers, one that has a proven history of successful results. In addition, you want an attorney employing the best resources available – modern technology and investigative techniques, access to expert witnesses, a legal staff knowledgeable in all areas of medical malpractice law.

The fees for a good attorney will vary based on the expertise he brings to the case and their level of success — but you do not want to select an attorney because of their fee structure. “We only charge if we win” is a red flag that this attorney is only in it for the money, not your case.

You want to find an attorney with high standards of ethical behavior and integrity. An honest, compassionate attorney will be honest with you about your case, what they can do for you, what is involved in litigation, and the time frame necessary to resolve your case.

Don’t settle! Your attorney should be looking out for your best interests, not theirs. Therefore, it is critical to make the right choice when selecting an attorney to represent you in your case — it could mean the difference between recovery and defeat, life or death.

What Makes a Good Malpractice Case?

A medical malpractice case involves a health care provider breaching the standard of care, resulting in injury to the patient. The injured party can be just about anyone – a child victim of birth trauma, an adult who has sustained an injury or lost a loved one due to negligence or error by a hospital or physician.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Case

When you file a medical malpractice case, you make a statement to all parties involved – the defendant (hospital or physician), the court, and your peers. Your primary role in a medical malpractice case is as a witness – your attorney will do the speaking for you.

To file a case, the defendant must have been negligent in their care of you, must have breached the standard of care, and that breach must have caused injury to you. In a medical malpractice case, the injured party can be either the patient or a surviving family member (in cases of wrongful death).

Obtaining Evidence

Collecting evidence for your medical malpractice case can be complex and laborious. It involves assembling information about you, your injuries, the defendant and their level of care, as well as any expert witnesses. Your attorney will work with you to determine what evidence is necessary and retain the appropriate experts to help prove your case.

Preparing Your Case

Once you have all of the information you need, your attorney will begin preparing your case by investigating the facts relevant to your case and finding any expert testimony that may be helpful. It is important for you to monitor this process and ensure that everything is done on your behalf. You will also be required to go to the doctor for medical tests and evaluations (both for your attorney’s use and yours).

 

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Why Vinyl Records are Making a Comeback – Ronald Phillips New York

It’s estimated that vinyl record sales will reach $1 billion this year, about half of it sold in the United States. It may not be a coincidence that CD sales are at their lowest point since 2001. As for downloads? The downward trend is clear. Downloading music peaked in 2012 and has been declining ever since. Vinyl enthusiasts like Ronald Phillips New York will tell you the reason for this comeback.

This trend has been positively attributed to the high quality of sound that comes from vinyl records and the fact that it’s a tangible object. Digital songs are subject to damage or loss due to crashes or even technical issues with your computer. Expecting people to pay for songs that they can’t possibly access is not a safe bet. The thrill of digging through crates of albums is another reason people return to records, especially in New York, where it’s easy to find treasures with popular shops like Other Music and Academy Records.

6 Reasons People Prefer Vinyl

1. The feel of a record, the cover art, and sleeve notes

People enjoy collecting albums because it gives them a sense of ownership. They can hold and even smell the album, and they can read the liner notes and look at pictures of who made it. Watching DJs spin records is also an experience in itself – most people would agree that watching someone create a song on the fly is way more fun than scrolling through songs on your computer.

2. The crackle of a record

There’s an audible difference between listening to a vinyl record and digital songs online or with Bluetooth technology. Whenever you play a vinyl record, you get the crackle of old-fashioned sounds that remind us of concerts from the 60s. Many young adults have experienced listening to records. At the same time, their parents or grandparents play them – this is often a way of remembering their past and seeing what life was like before technology became so advanced.

3. The thrill of finding a rare vinyl record

You’ve probably heard people say that they prefer digital music because of the convenience of having every song they want on their phones. But what about the thrill of digging through crates full of records to find that one gem?

4. The feeling of nostalgia

More people are listening to vinyl because it allows them to go back in time and listen to an album as if they’re experiencing it for the first time – with all the excitement, anticipation, and wonder of a child.

5. Feeling closer to the artists you love when you buy their album on vinyl rather than digital

We’ve been conditioned to think that buying music only comes from having a credit card in our pockets or money in our accounts. However, vinyl records allow us to go back in time and support musicians through a method that is not as easy as simply clicking on a song.

6. The visual experience of owning an album

In the same way that you have to put more thought into what DVD to buy when there are two versions with different features, albums come in many shapes and sizes. You can choose a classic square record or a jazzy 3D album that you can open up. One of my favorites is the Moody Blues vinyl record with an impressive die-cut cover, allowing you to see different images on either side of the record.

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Joon Faii Ong Discusses the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor function. It is a chronic, progressive illness with no cure, and it manifests as a result of the loss of neurons that secrete dopamine in a region of the brain known as the substantia nigra. Loss of these neurons causes reduced dopamine levels within this area and reduced dopamine levels seen throughout the brain. In turn, this decreased dopamine production leads to the major motor symptoms of the disease. Movement becomes difficult for those who have Parkinson’s due to two distinct features: akinesia and chorea.

Joon Faii Ong is a leading researcher on Parkinson’s Disease and knows the ins and outs of the disease better than most. He outlines the steps of the progression of the disease in this article today.

1. Symptoms

The first symptoms that a person experiences during the disease’s progression will typically involve changes in their motor function. There are three main types of motor symptoms: bradykinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity.

Symptoms such as bradykinesia (slowness of movement) result from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum and a loss of dopamine at a postsynaptic level. Humidity symptoms result from a lack of dopamine in the basal ganglia and an inability to repress agonist muscles while activating antagonist muscles during movement.

Finally, resting tremor is somewhat paradoxical given that Parkinson’s patients have decreased dopamine levels but experience involuntary shaking. This shaking occurs due to increased dopamine levels in the substantia nigra pars reticulate of these individuals.

2. Rigidity and Bradykinesia

The development of rigidity is a sign that motor symptoms are worsening which means that the disease has progressed to stage two or three on Joon Faii Ong’s scale. As time goes on, the patient may experience increased rigidity and bradykinesia (slow movement) symptoms.

3. Movement Disorders

As the disease progresses, patients will naturally begin to suffer from additional motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease. These can include gait freezing, postural instability, and impaired balance. In addition, patients may also begin to suffer from an impaired ability to formulate gestures and become increasingly emotional.

4. Stage Four

Stage four is the point at which patients are most severely affected by the disease regarding their motor system. By this time, patients experience severe pain in terms of both bradykinesia and rigidity symptoms. Patients may also become unresponsive to medication and experience a degree of immobility that inhibits their ability to care for themselves, making them reliant upon assistance.

5. Decline in Cognitive Functioning

It is common for those affected by Parkinson’s Disease to experience a decline in cognitive functioning as the disease progresses. This occurs due to the degeneration of brain regions responsible for memory, attention, and language. This type of decline is often visible in advanced PD patients as they begin to forget names, dates, and locations that they were previously familiar with.

6. Death

Eventually, those affected by Parkinson’s Disease will lose all life functions related to their autonomic nervous system (ANS). This means that patients will die of cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction and pneumonia.

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How Big Tech is Driving Education – Northwestern Polytechnic University

The Big Tech revolution isn’t just changing how we work. It’s changing the entire economy, and nowhere is that more apparent than in higher education. Online degree programs are becoming more common by the day. In addition, big tech companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Uber, and Amazon offer courses to their employees to help them stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Universities like Northwestern Polytechnic University, San Jose State University, and the University of California at Irvine are the vanguard in offering online degrees in computer science and high-demand tech skills.

Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) is a Silicon Valley institution specializing in offering an array of technology programs to working professionals. However, unlike many universities, NPU has always focused on providing education to students already working in the industry. And they do so by leveraging their relationships with Silicon Valley companies like Cisco, Nvidia, IBM, and more.

Meeting an Insatiable Demand

The demand for tech skills is growing at a breakneck pace. More than 70% of the fastest-growing occupations in America require technology skills.

That’s why NPU has continued to grow over the last few years, more than doubling enrollment since 2014. In addition, other institutions like SJSU, which has been around for nearly a century, have also seen their computer science enrollment increase by over 60%.

One of the greatest challenges these institutions face is how to make programs available to students who are already working full-time jobs. Many tech companies now offer tuition reimbursement through online coursework, but it comes with a catch. You can’t get reimbursed for online degrees if they aren’t from an institution accredited by the regional accreditation boards.

So while many tech companies offer tuition reimbursement, very few students qualify for their employers to pay for their degree. Not only do you have to be employed full-time at a tech company, but you also have to take courses on campus in person. That makes it nearly impossible for university administrators to meet the incredibly high demand from tech companies to get their employees trained.

That’s why NPU has been so successful in expanding its enrollment by offering online degrees in computer science and other tech-related programs. As a result, they have managed to receive huge grants from both the State of California and the U.S. Department of Labor for their efforts in meeting this global demand for tech skills.

New Opportunities Abound

There is not a single employer that can’t benefit from computer scientists on staff, whether within their IT department, among data scientists, or even at their boardroom table with C-level executives.

Demand for tech skills is rising across the board, and employers are seeking out professionals with degrees in high-demand tech fields like computer science to fill those roles. As a result, there has never been a better time for both students and working professionals to pursue tech programs than now.

As technology becomes ever more influential in our everyday lives, interest in STEM-related degrees continues to grow. While there are many ways to get a tech degree, online programs have become an increasingly popular way for working professionals to get the education they need without having to quit their jobs or start over completely fresh.

 

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7 Tips for Planning Your Retirement with Jeffrey Small Arbor Financial

In this article, we have collected some tips from the professionals at Jeffrey Small Arbor Financial to help you plan for your retirement.

1. Look ahead when planning your retirement.

Retirement is a lifetime goal. The sooner you start planning; the more options will be available to you when it’s finally time to retire from work and transition into a new phase of life. You can set your retirement date years in advance and even plan how your retirement plans will be funded.

2. Look back to see where you’re headed.

Take a look at your current financial situation and determine what changes need to be made to ensure that your resources last for the rest of your life (after retirement). For example, how much income do you currently need to maintain your current standard of living (and what will that be when you retire)? If the amount you save today is not enough to carry you through until retirement, it may be time to change income strategies.

3. Roll over individual retirement accounts and pensions into a tax-deferred account such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Tax-deferred investments provide a way to accumulate money faster, defer taxes until a later point in time, and leave the investment wealth growing for you tax-free. IRAs are similar to 401(k)s but with two key differences: you contribute after-tax dollars (yet still defer the tax), and most importantly, you can rollover your traditional 401(k) into an IRA (versus the requirement to convert your 401(k) upon retirement).

4. Consider investments outside of tax-deferred accounts.

Investing in products that are not tax-deferred may lead to higher returns on investment, but taxes must be paid each year on any earned gains or interest. However, the government has provided a form of tax-free investment that can help build wealth and save for retirement: the Roth IRA. For those who have yet to reach the age of fifty-nine and a half, this strategy may be your best option in the future, as long as you are willing to pay taxes each year on any gains.

5. Reduce your tax bill by minimizing expenses in retirement.

Now is the best time to determine how you can reduce your livings costs in retirement before you ever actually retire. Today, every dollar saved on taxes becomes $10 in monthly income when you’re retired (and living on a fixed income).

6. Invest your savings.

Once you have determined your retirement income strategies, it is time to determine how to invest your current savings to build wealth over time (so that the amount saved when you retire will be enough). Since money has future value, today’s dollars can produce more than dollars in the future if they are invested wisely. You should consider diversifying your investments across different asset types. When selecting investment vehicles, look for products that are easy to access, have low minimums where possible, and give you the greatest flexibility in terms of withdrawals.

7. Keep an eye on one key metric: inflation.

The past generation has seen average yearly inflation rates between 3% – 5%; according to the BLS, inflation has hovered around 3% annually over the past ten years. The same amount of money that purchased a gallon of gasoline in 1953 can now only purchase roughly half that amount today. It is important to note that inflation rates vary widely depending upon location, what you are purchasing, and your circumstances.

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Celebrate Special Occasions Safely: A Guide to Preventing Home Fires When Grilling

Not all things are only American. Humans all over the world have been grilling and barbecuing for millions of years, regardless of the occasion (or even without). While they continue the tradition today, many Americans love to pair it with a pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, or creamy potato salad.

According to statistics, 75% of Americans own an outdoor grill or smoker, and about 61% said they use a gas grill. Unfortunately, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recorded an average of 10,600 home fires per year due to grills. According to their data, 84% were due to gas grills.

Avoid ruining your barbecue time with your loved ones by following these safety guidelines:

1. Clean the Drip Pan

A grease fire can occur when the drip pan under your cooling grids and burners becomes full, and heat reaches ignition temperature.

Depending on the design of your gas grill, the drip pan is located outside the firebox, which can help contain a grease fire. However, drip pans are removable and should be checked and cleaned regularly.

  • Slide the drip pan out when the grill is not in use and cool.
  • Scrape off all dried debris and grease.
  • Soak and rinse the drip pan in warm water. You can use soap and a sponge for tough stains.
  • Dry your drill pan with a dry cloth and place it back in the grill.
  • Look for the removable drip tray at the back of your grill, and replace it when it’s full since they’re disposable.

2. Check Your Grill for Any Leaks

Though people now can grill during the colder months, most store their equipment in winter and bring it out when grilling season begins. Before grilling, check the gas lines for any leaks since this can cause propane or natural gas to build up inside the barbecue when the lid is closed. In addition, always open the lid of your grill before lighting.

3. Place Your Grill Away from Your Home

Some homeowners place their barbecue grills just outside their back door. Avoid doing this because grills too close to your house or wood structures can heat nearby materials, causing a fire. In general, place your grill at least 10 feet away from your home, trees, or other structures.

But if this is impossible to do, like when it’s raining, make sure that the area is well ventilated, and the grill has a safe distance from combustible materials. Remove accumulated leaves and other items in the grill area.

4. Always Supervise When Grilling

It is not wise to leave your barbecue unattended. If children or pets come into contact with the hot grill, it can cause injuries. Also, barbecues use high heat and open flames for cooking meat and other food, which can become dangerous when unsupervised. If you have to walk away for a while, ask another adult to watch it for you.

5. Keep the Lid Open

In addition to getting crispier meat, keeping your lid open when grilling fatty foods allows you to manage flare-ups that can cause serious injuries. Or better yet, trim any excess fat before cooking.

6. Keep a Spray Bottle Nearby

When fat drips from meat when cooking, your grill can flare up and continue until the piece of food burns away. If left unattended, this continues and can make excess smoke mass under the lid. Always keep a spray bottle on hand when grilling so you can quickly extinguish small flames before they spread.

7. If Possible, Have a Fire Extinguisher Close By

If you can, keep a fire extinguisher close by when having a barbecue. Since you’re doing it outside your house, there will be no fire alarm to warn you. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, keep a bucket of water or sand nearby instead.

In case a fire occurs, follow these home fire safety checklists.

8. Consider Using Charcoal

Gas grills are a convenient and fast way to grill outdoors. But you may be safer with charcoal, especially if you can’t keep a safe distance from trees or structures.