ESPN Anchor Returns To Work After Gas Explosion

On December 11th, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm was reportedly injured in a gas explosion involving her back yard BBQ.  According to Yahoo Sports, Storm was injured when trying to re-ignite her propane gas grill.  The grill exploded causing bad burns over a large part of her body and face.  The report from Yahoo indicates Storm suffered second-degree burns on her chest and hands, and first-degree burns to her face and neck. She lost her eyebrows and eyelashes, and roughly half her hair.  In spite of these serious injuries, Storm returned to her job on New Year's Day, and she is expected to cover the BCS Championship game in Miami on January 7th.

Gas Grill Fires and Explosions

Generally, gas grills are safe and consumer injuries are relatively rare.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year, about 600 fires/explosions occur with gas grills resulting in injuries to about 30 people.  In spite of what seems like a relatively low risk, the CPSC has implemented new requirements for propane gas tanks that took effect on April 1, 2012.  The new requirements mandate that tanks have an overfill safety device, intended to reduce leaks and the number of fires and explosions that result.  

Safety Precautions You Can Take

According to the CPSC, there are a number of safety precautions you can take to lessen the chance of an injury-causing fire or explosion.  Those guidelines include the following:

• 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.
• Make sure your spark ignitor is consistently generating a spark to create a flame and burn the propane gas. If the flame is not visible, the heavier-than-air propane gas may be escaping and could explode.
• Never bring the propane tank into the house.

In spite of these precautionary measures, accidents are still going to happen.  Sometimes, these unfortunate events result from a product defect that may cause or contribute to the happening of a fire/explosion.  Information and a listing of specific products, product warnings and recalls related to gas grills can be found on the CPSC's website.

What To Do If You Are A Victim

If you or a loved one becomes a victim to a defective or unreasonably dangerous product, there are certain steps that should be taken to preserve evidence and better ensure compensation in the future.  First, the instrument or product suspected of causing the injury should be photographed in its immediate post-accident state, if at all possible.  Additionally, the product itself and any related components should be secured and then protected from compromise until authorities have been notified and an products liability attorney can be contacted.  Often times, an Orange County injury lawyer can be of assistance in evaluating the potential merit and value of such claims.

SOURCE:  ESPN's Hannah Storm returns 3 weeks after accident, Yahoo Sports, by BEN WALKER (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press – Mon, Dec 31, 2012