WE’VE GOT THE CALOR GAS – HERE’S HOW TO ENJOY YOUR BBQ AND CAMPING APPLIANCES SAFELY!
WE’VE GOT THE CALOR GAS – HERE’S HOW TO ENJOY YOUR BBQ AND CAMPING APPLIANCES SAFELY!
Barbecue and camping season is about to start – so as South Wales leading Calor Gas dealer, we want to help our customers understand how to use your gas appliances safely.
For those of you who like big, stainless steel, luxury BBQ’s, we have some that you will go crazy for in our Bridgend store. However, many people buy calor gas for portable barbecues or other camping appliances.
At the very least, most campers will have a little two ring has hob, powered of course by Calor Gas or Camping Gaz. The gas you choose is your choice, and we’ll be happy to help advise you on the best gas and adaptor for your needs.
However, more important than your choice of BBQ or camping gas appliance is some basic knowledge about how to use it safely – and that’s not something, unfortunately, that everyone knows.
Here’s some safety rules to follow:
General Safety for Outdoor Cooking
- Make sure your gas appliance is in good working order
- Ensure appliances are on a flat site, well away from a shed, trees or shrubs
- Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area
- Never leavean outdoor cooking appliance unattended
- Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
- Ensure your appliance is cool before attempting to move it.
Changing Cylinders on Gas Barbecues and Camping appliances
- Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder
- Change cylinders outdoors if possible or in a well ventilated area. Don’t do this in the porch area of your tent unless both the tent and porch are VERY well ventilated – fumes could easily enter the main tent.
- If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles – tighten to fix but do not overtighten
- After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up.
Campsite Safety
Caravans and tents are smaller and more confined than a house. Both fire itself and carbon monoxide poisoning are potentially lethal. Here’s some guidelines to ensure you enjoy your trip away:
- Find out what the firefighting arrangements are on your site
- Do not use cooking equipment at all inside smaller tents, and only use in a well ventilated area in larger tents – if in doubt, cook outside!
- BBQs should not be used inside at all in tents, even large ones. This also applies AFTER the flames have gone out, the BBQ will emit lethal carbon monoxide until completely cold.
- Don’t assume a tent porch is safe, unless very well ventilated, fumes can easily pass between the porch and the indoor areas.
- Caravanners should install a smoke alarm to give early warning of a fire
- Consider getting a carbon monoxide alarm
- Never leave children alone in a caravan or tent
- Ensure you have a charged water or dry powder fire extinguisher near an exit door. A fire blanket should be adjacent to the cooking area in a caravan, and it’s worth investing in one even if you are holidaying in a tent – they are compact to keep and could save your expensive tent or even a life.
- Keep a torch handy for emergencies – never use candles
- Make sure everyone knows how to operate escape windows and doors
- Keep gas cylinders outside caravans unless a special ventilated compartment is provided.
- In tents, also keep gas bottles outside wherever possible. If you really must keep it indoors, make sure the area is really well ventilated. Closing all the doors and windows and air vents in your tent will keep you warm and dry, but it will also prevent ventilation. Open doors and windows if possible, and keep the gas bottle and any gas appliances as far away from the sleeping area as you can.
- If in doubt, keep your gas out!
Follow these rules and you should be able to enjoy your meals al fresco, free from any safety concerns.
Here’s hoping the we get the promised good weather!