Burn prevention is a key endeavor of Shriners Hospitals for Children®, which is why the health care system began its Burn Awareness campaigns more than 20 years ago.

The 2010 Burn Awareness Campaign

Reckless use and improper storage of gasoline and injuries resulting from scald burns caused by hot liquids, steam or foods, lead to thousands of young children being burned every year. These dangers are being addressed in Shriners Hospitals for Children® 2010 Burn Awareness Week campaign. Burn Awareness Week is recognized each year during the first full week in February. This year, the week-long recognition is February 7-13, 2010

Gasoline Burn Injuries

To help parents, caregivers, educators and firefighters teach children about the dangers of gasoline, the 2010 campaign provides printable lesson plans and fact sheets, as well as printable coloring pages featuring Anthony the Fire Ant, who takes kids along on his mission to prevent gasoline injuries.

“Tweens” and teens ages 10-14 years old are four times more likely to get in trouble with gasoline. For this age group, the campaign uses the personal story of Austin Bailiff, a teen who sustained serious burns over most of his body as a result of he and a friend experimenting with gasoline to set fire to a glove. Austin shares his experiences in an effort to reach out to other teens in an effort to prevent others from making the same mistake.

Scald Burn Injuries

Scald burns are the most common burn injury among children age 4 and younger, and kids in this age group have the highest mortality rates for this type of injury. In one year, U.S. hospitals treated an estimated 16,000 children under the age of 5 for scalds. 

To help parents, caregivers, educators and firefighters educate kids and the public, the 2010 campaign provides posters and stickers featuring helpful scald prevention information.

In addition to the resources immediately available on this Web site, Shriners Hospitals for Children® is providing resources for order, at no charge, that can be used during Burn Awareness Week and throughout the year.

To request a presentation about the 2010 Burn Awareness campaign or Shriners Hospitals for Children®, please click here to find your local chapter of Shriners International or send an e-mail to shrinepr@shrinenet.org.

Quick Facts About Gasoline and Scald Burn Injuries

• Each year in the United States, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention. Approximately 4,500 people die. And up to 10,000 people die every year in the U.S. from burn-related infections.
• The Shriners Hospitals for Children® specializing in treating burn injuries have admitted more than 10,000 acute pediatric burn patients since 1994.
• Kids ages 13 and older are in the highest at-risk group for gasoline and other flammable substance burns.
• According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, in one year approximately 1,270 children under age 5 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries resulting from the misuse of gasoline and unsecured gasoline cans.
• Children ages 10-14 are almost four times more likely to get in trouble with gasoline.
• Every day, more than 300 young children with scald burns are taken to emergency rooms.
• The mortality rates from scald burn injuries are highest for children under the age of 4.
• Most scald injuries in children occur while bathing.

To request a presentation about the 2010 Burn Awareness campaign or Shriners Hospitals for Children®, find your local chapter of Shriners International here or e-mail http://shrinepr@shrinenet.org.

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