Shriners and Shriners Hospitals for Children to Kick Off Year-Long Campaign to Prevent Gasoline Burn Injuries

Feb. 3-9, 2008, is Burn Awareness Week, and Shriners across North America and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 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.

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.

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 Calling the Local Shrine Public Relations office or visiting www.burnawarenessweek.org.

The Web site features important gasoline safety and burn prevention messages and tips. If the Local Shrine PR Office dosn't have what you want in stock,the web site offers the opportunity to order free materials, including lesson plans for students in grades K-3, facts sheets about gasoline safety, 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.