One of the rites of summer is to break out the old grill and fire it up. As we all know, nothing tastes better than food cooked outdoors. It may be the added “zing” of sizzling black flies and mosquitoes that adds zest, or maybe it’s your “special sauce.” But there’s little doubt that without those summer barbecues, all of our freezers still would be full of venison and moose meat we otherwise just can’t give away.

But whether you are cooking with propane or charcoal, grills also pose a special risk of injury if you don’t follow the rules and avoid old and obsolete equipment.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has worked with the industry to develop a new safety standard to prevent over-filling of propane gas tanks. This standard will help prevent propane leaks that can cause fires and explosions. Propane gas is highly flammable. Each year, about 600 fires or explosions occur with gas grills resulting in injuries to about 30 people.

The new safety standard requires that an “overfill prevention device” be installed in new gas tanks. The new propane gas tanks have valve handles with three “lobes” (prongs), while older tanks have valve handles with five prongs. People with older propane gas tanks should trade them in for the new, safer tanks.

A different industry standard -adopted in 1995 at the urging of the CPSC – provided for several safety features in the gas grills, hoses and connections. The safety standard called for a device to limit the flow of gas if the hose ruptures; a mechanism to shut off the grill if it overheats; and a device to prevent the flow of gas if the connection between the tank and grill is not leakproof. People who have grills that do not meet the 1995 standard either should get a new grill or be especially attentive to the following safety tips:

. Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.

. Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.

. Always keep propane gas containers upright.

. Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.

. Never store or use flammable liquids like gasoline near the grill.

. Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.

In addition to propane grills, grills using charcoal briquettes can pose a risk. Charcoal produces carbon monoxide when it is burned. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments. Each year about 19 people die as a result of carbon monoxide fumes from charcoal being burned inside. To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:

. Never burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles, tents or campers.

. Charcoal never should be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.

. Since charcoal produces carbon monoxide fumes until the charcoal is extinguished completely, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.

In 1996, the CPSC revised the label on charcoal packaging to warn consumers more explicitly of the deadly carbon monoxide gas released when charcoal is burned in a closed environment. The new label reads in part, “WARNING … CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD … Burning charcoal inside can kill you.” But labels don’t protect people; paying attention and being careful do.

Finally, remember, these things get wicked hot! Keep the children away from them, even when they are cooling down. COMBAT suggests that your fireplace screen would get good summer use as a barrier between children and outdoor grills.

Consumer Forum is a collaborative effort of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT. Send questions to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, Maine 04402-1329. COMBAT is a nonprofit organization with annual dues of $10. For membership information, write to the above address.