Get a Jump Start on National Burn Awareness Week

Your role in fire prevention is more important than you think!

National Burn Awareness Week occurs every February to remind people to bring attention to the cause and prevention of fires and burn-related injuries.

Yes, Smoky the Bear might’ve said it best when he started his fire safety campaign in 1968, “Only you can prevent wildfires!” Yet, in 2016 there were 60,932 human-caused wildfires that burned nearly 4 million acres.

The importance of fire prevention can’t be overstated

In December 2017, wildfires had burned more than 100,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, according to an article in NY Times. Some said the fire created a blaze that was larger than New York City.

Unintentional fires or burn injuries were the 5th leading cause of injury deaths in the United States and in 2015 for children age 1-4, and the 3rd for ages 5-9. What’s worse, each year, over 486,000 people visited needed treatment from a serious burn-related injury in the United States and Canada. In 2016 alone, there were 3,390 recordable deaths from fire and smoke inhalation injuries.

What you need to know about burns (statistics from American Burn Association):

  1. Burn injuries continue to be the leading causes of unintentional death and injury in the United States
  2. One civilian fire injury occurs every minute
  3. Most of the burn injuries treated in burn centers occurred in the home
  4. The lifetime odds of someone dying from exposure to fire, flames, or smoke are 1 in 1,498 (in the U.S.)
  5. Almost one-quarter (24%) of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15.
  6. 96.7% of those treated in burn centers will survive. Unfortunately, many survivors will sustain serious scarring and life-long disabilities.

Shine a light on fire awareness!

Although the majority of the injuries from fires and burns were preventable, The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) are working to advance the professional status and expand the knowledge and skills of fire and emergency services.

National Burn Awareness Week is an initiative of the American Burn Association to bring attention to the cause and prevention of fire and burn-related injuries. Get a jump start on awareness and inform your workers about National Burn Awareness Week.

Here are a few ways you can prevent falling victim to fires and burns:

We encourage you to take part in National Burn Awareness Week in February and educate your employees on fire and burn prevention!