One of the most painful injuries that one can ever
experience is a burn injury. When a burn occurs to the skin, nerve endings are damaged
causing intense feelings of pain. Every year, millions of people in Canada and the United
States are burned in one way or another. Of those, thousands die as a result of their
burns. Many require long-term hospitalisation. Burns are a leading cause of unintentional
death in Canada and the United States. Serious burns are complex injuries. In addition
to the burn injury itself, a number of other functions may be affected. Burn injuries can
affect muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. The respiratory system can be damaged,
with possible airway obstruction, respiratory failure and respiratory arrest.
Since burns injure the skin, they impair the body's normal fluid/electrolyte balance,
body temperature, body thermal regulation, joint function, manual dexterity, and physical
appearance. In addition to the physical damage caused by burns, patients also may suffer
emotional and psychological problems that begin at the emergency scene and could last a
very long time. These injuries are even more terrible when they occur in childhood or
during teenage years since their outcome will linger so much longer with the unfortunate
young patient.
Burn accident statistics show that at least 50% of all burn accidents can be prevented.
For example, one of every 13 structure fire deaths in the Canada and the United States was
caused by a child setting a fire. Children playing with fire account for more than
one-third of pre-school child deaths by fire. The following information regarding burn
injuries has been compiled:
- Children, ages new-born to two-years-old, are most frequently admitted for emergency
burn care in a hospital. The kitchen is the most frequent area within the home where burn
injuries occur for children new-born to four years in age. The second most frequent area
in which burns occur is in the bathroom.
- Burns and fires are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children 14
and under and the third leading cause of accidental death for adults.
- Scalds are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children from birth to
age four and are 40% of the burn injuries for children up to age 14.
Now Imagine…
Imagine a burn survivor, released from a sheltered existence in hospital, grateful to
be alive yet looking towards a life that holds many fears and uncertainties, enveloped in
insecurities. Imagine a burn survivor, one who was burned two, three months ago,
faced with wondering what the future could possibly hold, having been through incredible
pain and treatments that many never could. In some cases the pain hasn’t
stopped. Imagine facing the reality that things will never be the same and wondering if
anyone could possibly understand.
Imagine a burn survivor, whose life was irrevocably changed as a child, when their life
should have just been beginning. Imagine having to grow up in a world where people,
children and adults alike, can be maliciously cruel. Surviving and growing yet
knowing that they will never be considered quite normal and wondering if anyone could
possibly understand.
Imagine being a family member who has witnessed the devastation of a burn injury
experienced by a loved one – the confusion of questions and concerns that are never
completely answered. Imagine the need to alleviate the pain of a loved one but
feeling helpless to do so, and wondering if anyone could possibly understand.
Imagine a health care worker, who as part of his or her effort to help burn survivors
live, must inflict pain, needing to be firm and dreading it at the same time. Imagine the
turmoil in saving the life of a burn survivor yet questioning what their quality of life
will be like and wondering if anyone could possibly understand.
Imagine a firefighter. Imagine being faced with the daily challenge of saving the
lives of those caught by fire. Imagine fighting an unpredictable force that can all
to often turn and wound and the fighter becomes the victim. Imagine rescuing someone
from the flames and sending them off to the hospital without every knowing what becomes of
them and wondering if anyone could possibly understand.
Now, imagine a place with no walls, no boundaries and no judgements, where those
described here may enter. Where they are greeted with smiles and hugs and the warmth
of those who have become like family - those who truly understand.
This is the amazing power of the
Foundation for
. Each year burn
children, burn survivors, family members, health care professionals, firefighters and
others come together with members of the