An American icon. Your son’s hero. The source of your neighbor’s envy. The Family Grillmaster.

July is your month, grillmaster. These 70 degree Saturdays are the perfect excuse to invite over your friends, family and even the in-laws to show them how it’s done properly. Let each bratwurst be sizzled and each bun toasted until you can once again stake your claim as the Ultimate Summer Grillmaster. So fire up the grill, crack open a cold one and review these grill safety tips so you can be second to none.

According to ABC News, 7,000 Americans are injured each year due to grilling. This results in $118 million in direct property damage. The leading causes of grill fires, says the NFPA, are failure to keep the grill clean, having the grill too close to items that can catch fire and leaving the grill unattended. July is the peak month that grill related injuries occur in.

Before you grill, make sure to check the gas tank hose for leaks. Simply apply light soap and water to the hose. Turn the propane tank on, and if there is a gas leak, bubbles will release around the hose. Secondly, you should check the major connection points between the hose and the regulator and tighten if loose.

The most important thing to be aware of while grilling is the smell of gas. If you smell it, immediately turn off gas and burners. Your next steps should include showing it to a professional before grilling again. If the smell continues after it is turned off, leave it to the pro’s, call the fire department.