SUMMER and barbecues go together and many of us have been sampling the joys of eating al fresco during the hot weather.

While dining this way is enjoyable it does carry risks. For example, every year, there are more than 500,000 cases of food poisoning in the UK and barbecues account for a significant proportion.

NHS Bolton CCG offers three top tips for safe barbecuing in its new, useful leaflet Think Summer.

Make sure the barbecue is hot enough before you start cooking. The coals need to be glowing red with a powdery grey surface.

Make sure frozen meat is thawed out before you cook it

Turn the meat regularly and move it around the barbecue to cook it evenly.

Most types of meat are safe to eat only when they are steaming hot throughout and you cannot see any pink meat in the thickest part with the juices running clear.

Dr Stephen Liversedge, clinical director of primary care and health improvement at the CCG added: “It is important to never keep cooked and raw meat near each other due to the risks of cross-contamination.

“You can also spread bacteria from washing meat under the tap. This comes from the splashing of the water off the meat onto worktops, clothing and cooking equipment. However, once the meat is thoroughly cooked there will not be any bacteria remaining.”

Mike Wakeman – a clinical pharmacist with a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Analysis, Nutritional Medicine and Clinical Oncology – also suggested avoiding having too much bread like burger buns.

“Loading up on bread and buns at barbecues, together with often larger meat portions, challenges your digestive system,” he stated. “Your hips and stomach will thank you if you avoid the starch!”

For natural upset stomach remedies, he suggests the spice turmeric as a trusted aid, the herb milk thistle to aid liver regeneration and detoxification and artichoke leaf extract in supplement form to discourage bloating.

The CCG also advises everyone to be careful about having too much alcohol at barbecues. Apart from a bad hangover, there are more serious health implications. National guidelines say men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week – that is six pints of average-strength beer or five large glasses of wine, preferably spread out over three or more days.

It is also very important to use barbecues and chimineas safely at home. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service advises everyone to set these up safely, avoiding placing chimineas on decking or near trees and structures and ensuring they are stable and secure with a fire guard to prevent embers escaping.

Never use chemicals like petrol to start the fire. Instead, use kindling to create a small fire then slowly add larger wood. Don’t leave it unattended and make sure children are properly supervised around barbecues and chimineas

If you are in charge of the barbecue or fire, enjoy yourself but don’t drink too much alcohol. Keep a bucket of water, sand or the garden hose nearby for the fire.

And, as we’ve seen in the shocking fires at Winter Hill, if you are using a disposable barbecue out and about, take extra care. Place it on an even surface of either bricks or paving slabs well away from houses, sheds or fences.

After use, ensure it has cooled for several hours and pour water over it before putting it in a bin. That way, you can enjoy the pleasures of barbecuing but keep our countryside and wildlife safe, too.

See the Think Summer leaflet at the Bolton CCG website on https://www.boltonccg.nhs.uk