A lot of people, these days, are using a charcoal fire to cook steaks, franks, hamburgers and whatnot. We are not aware of any recent serious accidents involving this pastime and certainly hope there won’t be any. There is, however, potential danger unless safety rules are followed. Indeed the Denver office of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges the public to use their outdoor cooking equipment most carefully. Each year hundreds in the country die from carbon monoxide poisonings or are burned when using their charcoal grills. Carelessness usually is a factor in these tragedies. One potential danger is a flash fire or explosion that can occur if consumers attempt to add charcoal lighter fluid to hot coals. In some cases, the vapors violently ignite traveling back to the person holding the container. Another dangerous procedure is trying to start charcoal fires with gasoline or alcohol. Both products ignite so violently that many times the user is burned before he can get away. Burning charcoal gives off carbon monoxide gas (CO) that will kill. CO is colorless, tasteless, and oderless. It is absorbed into the bloodstream far easier than oxygen, causing drowsiness, unconsciousness and death, says a warning from the product safety office. These tips are recommended for safe use of a barbeque grill: – Barbeque only out of doors where the carbon monoxide from the grill will be disbursed into the air. – Stack your charcoal in a pyramid at first for good ignition. – Use only kindling products meant for lighting charcoal. If you choose a charcoal starter fluid, squirt a generous amoimt of the liquid onto the briquets. Allow a minute or two for the fluid to soak in before lighting. After lighting, allow the charcoal to burn until covered with a white ash. By all means, follow directions carefully in using the new solid charcoal lighters, an electrical charcoal starter, or any product associated with the operation. The labels on charcoal and kindling products warn you about the hazards. Always “read and heed.” Have fun with your summertime outdoor cooking – but be sure to do it safely! S0 They Suy “Before the (gangsters) acted as if they owned the place. Now, being isolated, they feel weaker and ill at ease in this group oriented society.” -Raisuke Miyawaki. “Many people look upon the termination of a marriage as a failure rather than perhaps as a lifestyle change, a develoghmental stage in a relationship. l en the anger mounts and the feelings of fai ure increase, they wil do anything at their disposal to hurt the other partner.” -Dr. Lee Salk, child psychologist, gleadinlg for special rights for t e chil ren of d vorclng parents. “We have not achieved success yet in any of these efforts, and may not. l can’t guarantee success.” -President Carter, assessing the progress of the U.S. – USSR efforts to limit strategic weapons.