3)    Ventilation is your friend – Even the best, most professional grillers have occasional sparks and other hazards occur. Keep your grill in an area far away from your house, shed or other shelters, and make sure there isn’t a lot of dry brush, leaves or other combustibles on the ground. Leave a lot of space surrounding the grill and don’t put it in a high-traffic area where the kids are running around or kicking balls.

4)    Be stable – This applies to the grill and the griller. Make sure everything is securely on the ground and in no danger of being tipped over. And even though your relatives may come over with all sorts of suggestions on what to do, keep calm and fix your eyes firmly on the food on the grill. You’ve read the owner’s manual, and you can refer them to that if they truly are on your nerves.

5)    Electric grills need the proper grounding – If you’re using a rotisserie or other electrical gear in conjunction with your grill, make sure you’re following local codes. Keep the cords taped down or out of the way of clumsy relatives.

6)    Don’t wear flammable clothes – There’s a reason why fire retardant was a major improvement on materials used in clothing. Make sure you don’t have loose, floppy sleeves, apron strings or other things that can be caught by the heat or flames and cause trouble. It’s also best if you use long-handled utensils like tongs to turn the meat or other items and wear oven mitts to insulate your hands from potential heat damage.

7)    Don’t let the fires burn high – Keep a water bottle handy just in case the flames flare up too high or the smoke gets a little much. You can raise the grill a tad and maneuver the coals, wood or other items to make sure they are more evenly spaced. Food doesn’t have to be blasted with heat higher than the sun to cook properly. It’s also a good idea to keep some baking soda or a fire extinguisher handy in case things get a little out of control – with the food or your brother-in-law!