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243. Burn Prevention Program Development & Implementation
M, Danjin RN, MSN, S. Smith RN, MSN
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Ml.
Introduction: A Fire and Burn Community Prevention Program During 2000, the hospital and fire department collaboratively developed a burn prevention program that included an assessment, school education, provision of smoke detectors, and parental education in the home. The target population for the firstyear was 3 inner city elementary schools. Prior to the initiation of the program there was a devastating house fire that took the lives of 6 children. Witnesses reported hearing a smoke detector and the children screaming but no one could get to them in time and they did not know how to get out. To address this issue, a Fire/Burn Home Safety Survey and Smoke Detector Request Form was
developed. Methods: The surveys were sent home with the children to be returned prior to our burn prevention program. The returned surveys (103) were entered into a database and analyzed.
Results: The survey results showed that 19% of the families had working smoke detectors. In addition, 69°/° reported having an escape plan but only 42% of those with a plan practiced it and 48% had a set meeting place. Thirty percent of the children were aware of the escape routes. This information gave our team direction on areas to be included in our program. When we went to the schools, the children asked many questions about how they and their families would get out if their house were on fire. Other questions focused on how to get an elderly family member in a wheelchair out, getting out of houses with bars on their windows, and getting out of upper flats. Much time was spent on the importance of having an escape plan and practicing this plan. Smoke detectors were acquired through a grant and installed by volunteers at no cost to the families. While in the home parents were educated about mapping out an escape plan and practicing it each month when they test their
batteries. Conclusion: Due to its success, this program is being expanded to include additional inner city schools. In
additon, the program will be available to other suburban and rural communities.
244. The Media Glorifying Burns; A Hindrance to Burn Prevention
D. G. Greenhalgh MD,
FACS, T, L. Palmieri MD, FACS
Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA.
Introduction: The media has a profound influence on the actions of children and adults. Burns and burn prevention tend to be ignored or even mocked. People are portrayed as being invulnerable to all types of burns. The purpose of this presentation is to reveal the callousness of the media when it comes to its dealings with burns and burn prevention.
Methods: Printed materials with a relationship to burns, risk of burning or disrespect
for the consequences of burns were collected. The materials were tabulated into 3 categories: comics, advertisements (ads) or articles that made light of burns. A few examples of similar findings on TV were also collected.
Results: Most burn-related materials were found in advertisements. Nine ads involved flames, with four showing people on fire with no concern or discomfort. Several ads had flames as decorations for clothing or items. Especially prevalent were flames on skateboards, hot rods or motor cycles. One skateboard ad offered "30 new ways to burn" and "ride the fire." Other ads included placing one's tongue in a light socket and a smiling woman walking on hot coals. A TV ad had a man with his scalp on fire with the suggestion that a shampoo would "stop the burning." Several comics made light of high-risk behavior with flames. A 5-day series showed a man pouring gas into his gutters and igniting it to eliminate leaves, Another made fun of using massive amounts of sparklers. Two comics depicted someone pouring coffee or boiling oil over people, and one made a joke out of a lightning strike to the mouth. One magazine article showed a toddler holding a lighter at a rock concert. Finally, TV episodes have had a magician in a "tornado of fire" and another had a "human BBQ" session. The latter resulted in at least 2 copycat burns.
Conclusion: The media portrays flames and high risk behavior for burn injury as being cool, funny and without consequence. The use of flames on clothing and recreational equipment (skateboards, hot rods) particularly targets the high risk adolescent male. The ABA should make the media aware of the harm it causes with its callous depiction and glorification of burns.
S162 Burn Care & Rehabilitation
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