Feb. 3-9, 2008, is Burn Awareness Week, and during this week Shriners Hospitals for Children will kick-off a year-long campaign focused on preventing gasoline burn injuries. A special Web site has been developed for the campaign, www.burnawarenessweek.org.
“Preventing burn injuries and burn awareness education should be an on-going effort, not just a week-long campaign,” said Peter Armstrong, M.D., chief medical officer, Shriners Hospitals for Children. “We are declaring 2008 the year of ‘Preventing Gasoline Burn Injuries.’”
According to a study published in the November 2007 issue of the Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation, there are an estimated 10,000 pediatric (18 years old and younger) burn injuries annually in the United States. Gasoline burn injuries are among the types of burns seen all too frequently at the four Shriners Hospitals specializing in burns. “Most of these types of burn injuries are preventable,” Dr. Armstrong said.
Since 2002, Shriners Hospitals for Children has treated more than 800 children for acute burns caused by ignition of a highly flammable material, such as gasoline. Shriners Hospitals has treated 229 children from infancy to age 7 and 584 patients in the “tweens” and teens categories, ages 8-18.
Kids 13 and older are in the highest at-risk group for gasoline and other flammable substance burns. Video documentation of gas being misused and played with by adolescents is prevalent on the Internet.
Firefighters, teachers, parents, caregivers and other members of the community are encouraged to participate in the year-long campaign by visiting www.burnawarenessweek.org.
The Web site features important gasoline safety and burn prevention messages and tips. Lesson plans for students in grades K-3 and facts sheets about gasoline safety are available on the site, and visitors also have the opportunity to order various materials at no cost, including coloring books, crayons, stickers, pens, temporary tattoos and copies of a DVD developed for teen audiences.
The DVD features the story and compelling message of a teenage Shriners Hospital patient from Cashmere, Wash., Austin Bailiff. Austin sustained gasoline burn injuries on 90 percent of his body after he and his friend played with gasoline. Parents, teachers and firefighters are encouraged to show this video when discussing gasoline safety with teen audiences.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children:
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burn injuries of all degrees, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no charge – regardless of financial need or relationship to a Shriner.