MILWAUKEE– The tension… the excitement… the energy—it’s BREWERS post-season baseball! And for the fans lucky enough to attend the games, the tailgate is just as much a part of the experience as the game itself. But to ensure those memories are all good ones, safety has to be your number one priority.
Whether you’re celebrating a win or steeling yourself for the next inning, grilling is often the centerpiece of a tailgate. But in a crowded ballpark lot, an open flame presents serious hazards.
Director of Public Affairs for AAA, Nick Jarmusz, says it’s about keeping your ballpark bash fun and safe, “You want to keep those open flames away from the vehicle as much as possible and then also be conscious of any leaks… Monitor your surroundings. Make sure you’re keeping, you know, a good amount of distance between the the grill and your vehicle.”
Also, keeping a fire extinguisher within reach is a good idea too.
Once the pregame party is over and you’re headed into the stadium, you need to safely deal with your heat source. While many modern ballparks, like American Family Field, offer designated receptacles for hot coals, they are not universal. Never assume you can leave hot coals or grills unattended to cool naturally.
“If you can’t do that again, dousing the coals, putting them out, you know, not allowing them to just burn off on their own and then still keeping it away from the vehicle until it is fully cooled,” warns Jarmusz.
It may seem like a good idea to tuck your grill out of sight beneath your vehicle to prevent it from being stolen, but Jarmusz says that this is a dangerous and expensive mistake.
“A grill stolen… is going to be a far less expensive proposition than having your vehicle damaged by the that heat or, you know, or even potentially causing a fire.”
The last thing you want to happen is what happened recently at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami where they had a tailgating fire that destroyed 11 vehicles.
This safety advice isn’t just for the ballpark parking lot; it applies to “home tailgating” too. If you’re hosting an at-home watch party, keep your grill well away from your house, patios, wood siding, and any flammable materials, and keep that fire extinguisher easily accessible.
And finally, the most critical piece of advice when celebrating a post-season run: driving home safely. Never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. Always worth a quick reminder.
Jarmusz says, “The best case scenario is to just not drink if you are planning on driving and have some other alternative, but also just knowing your limits and sticking to those limits. Have a designated driver plan on using ride-share or public transportation if that’s an option. And making sure that you do have some non-alcoholic options for your group.”
It’s time to cheer on the CREW! But also, we wanna keep things under control so everyone can have an awesome post-season!
For more information on tailgating safety, click here.
