FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Newington Mayor Roy Zartarian
Newington Fire Department
CONTACT: Brian Thomas, (631) 374-7181

Stew Leonard’s
CONTACT: Meghan Bell, (203) 750-6107

CONNECTICUT FIRE OFFICIALS TO ANNOUNCE BBQ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AHEAD OF NATION’S BUSIEST GRILLING WEEKEND

NEWINGTON, CT (May 22, 2019) — Connecticut Fire Officials will join Newington Mayor Roy Zartarian and Stew Leonard’s CEO Stew Leonard, Jr. to outline fire prevention and barbecue safety precautions ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, which is widely regarded as the nation’s busiest weekend for backyard barbecues and grilling. Newington Fire Department Chief Christopher Schroeder will share tips on how to stay safe while around the grill this weekend. Stew Leonard, Jr. will offer food grilling safety tips for the tens of thousands of shoppers who will be grilling Memorial Day favorites from Stew Leonard’s this weekend.

A propane gas grill will be on hand to discuss safety measures which should be taken to prevent injury or property damage as a result of faulty grills or common mistakes made by inexperienced grillers. Fire experts will outline the differences between first, second, and third-degree burns, and the important steps to take in the immediate moments after receiving a burn, and prior to receiving medical attention. Contrary to public belief, immediate cold water/ice treatment may do more harm than good when treating damaged skin.

Common grilling injuries are flash burns, which result when gasoline used for grilling or heating engulfs a persons extremities or face, and corneal burns caused when heat radiating from a fire, grill, or barbecue burns the eyes. Grilling fires and injuries received at the grill reach their peak in the months of May, June, July, and August.

According to recent statistics, over 60% of Americans reported eating at a barbecue on Memorial Day Weekend 2018. Grills and barbecues account for approximately 9,000 fires in the United States each year, accounting for thousands of emergency room visits.

Family owned and operated Stew Leonard’s farm fresh food stores will sell tens-of-thousands of hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and Memorial Day food favorites every year.

**VISUALS OF FIREFIGHTERS INSTRUCTING INDIVIDUALS OF PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN SPARKING UP THE GRILL**

WHEN:
May 22, 2019
11AM

WHERE:
Stew Leonard’s Newington
3475 Berlin Tnpk.
Newington, CT.