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Win The Spirit Custom Harley Davidson Motorcycle!!

"D.C. Firefighters Adopt Burn Center"
"Research From Shriners Hospital for Children Yields New Findings on Autograft"
"2 States Mandate Fire-Safe Cigarettes"
"The Impact of a Legislative Intervention to Reduce Tap Water Scald Burns in an Urban Community"
"Camp Offers Winter Fun for Young Burn Survivors"
"Idaho Lawmakers Due to Consider Fire-Safe Cigs"
"Uniplanar External Fixation for Care of Circumferential Extremity Burn Wounds in Adults"
"Pressure Cookers Recalled Due to Burn Hazard"
"Researchers at University of Texas Target Injury Infection and Critical Care"
"Air Force Provides Army Burn Flight Team With Critical Care Training"
"Healthcare Resource Utilization and Epidemiology of Pediatric Burn-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2000"
"Chinese Scientists Develop Two-Layer Artificial Skin for Burn Victims"
"NEMA Launches 'Real Safety' Campaign to Boost Awareness of Child Electrical Safety"
"Researchers From General Hospital Detail Findings in Life Sciences"
"Perfusion in Burn Injuries Rapidly Determined by Using Improved Laser-Doppler Technology"
"Return to School Made Easier With 'The Journey Back'"

All IAFF members are eligible to win The Spirit, a customized Harley Davidson motorcycle built by Lynn Jones and Lynnco Custom Cycles - makers of The Peacemaker custom-designed motorcycle dedicated to the memory of the late Mattie Stepanek and The Bravest custom-designed motorcycle dedicated to all IAFF fire fighters.


The Spirit motorcycle is a one-of-a-kind, fully customized Harley Davidson Road King. The custom paint (by Chris Cruz) includes an image of a fire fighter and the IAFF logo. This unique bike features chrome spoke wheels, brake calipers, whitewall tires and chrome accessories -- including signal/passing lights, footboards, pedals, levers, mirrors, front end kit, slammer bar and risers, fender trim and engine. In addition, The Spirit offers soft saddlebags and Corbin touring seats with custom backrests.

The Spirit raffle benefits the IAFF Burn Foundation and the Lynn Jones Foundation. Tickets are $100, and only 5,000 tickets will sold.

(click for web site)

"D.C. Firefighters Adopt Burn Center"
Washington Post (01/03/08) P. DZ01; Silverman, Elissa

The D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation has helped hundreds of burn survivors since its inception in 2004. Most recently, members of the foundation supported four fire fighters injured while combating an Oct. 29 fire in a local rowhouse. They provided support, food, transportation, and housing for the fire fighters' loved ones, and protected the privacy of their comrades as they convalesced at Washington Hospital Center. Over the past several years, the foundation's president and vice president, fire fighters Jason Woods and James DiGregory, have worked tirelessly to form connections between the D.C. fire department and area hospitals. They have also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of which has gone toward Washington Hospital Center's burn unit. This year, the foundation will donate $60,000 toward remodeling the burn unit's gym, installing TVs and DVDs in patient areas, and repainting some parts of the unit. It is not just burned fire fighters the foundation helps. It has funded camps, theme park visits, and a yearly trip on D.C.'s fireboat for young burn survivors. Most of these trips are largely staffed by D.C. fire fighters who work as counselors and chaperones. In the future, the foundation hopes to help fund a pediatric burn center at Children's Hospital. Currently, children who need expert burn care often have to travel to Boston to get the treatment they need.

"Research From Shriners Hospital for Children Yields New Findings on Autograft"
Hospital & Nursing Home Week (01/03/08) P. 32

L.K. Branski and colleagues at Shriners Hospital for Children published a study in Critical Care Medicine concluding that Integra can be used to immediately cover severe burn wounds in kids without the related risks of cadaver skin. "Previous studies have shown that Integra is safe to use in burns of [less than 20 percent] total body surface area," they reported. The researchers caution that Integra's suitability for use in cases in which more than 50 percent of the child's total body surface is burned, its impact on postburn hypermetabolism, and long-term cosmetic and function effects have yet to be assessed. "There were no significant differences between Integra and controls in burn size ... mortality ... and length of stay," the researchers wrote. "In the short term, resting energy expenditure significantly decreased ... and serum levels of constitutive proteins significantly increased ... in the Integra group controls. Long-term follow-up revealed a significant increase in bone mineral content and density ... as well as improved scarring in terms of height, thickness, vascularity and pigmentation ... in the Integra group."

"2 States Mandate Fire-Safe Cigarettes"
Boston Globe (01/02/08) Howe, Peter J.

Maine and Massachusetts began Jan.1 to implement legislation requiring all cigarettes distributed in the states to be self-extinguishing. Under Massachusetts' new law, all cigarettes with tax stamps shipped from distributors after Jan. 1 will have to comply with the new law, although state retailers will be permitted to sell existing inventories. Between 700 and 900 Americans die annually in residential fires ignited by burning cigarettes, according to Russ Sanders with the National Fire Protection Association. Sanders believes lives will be saved as a result of the legislation. "Cigarette-ignited fires are the leading cause of residential fire deaths, and fire-safe cigarettes are a proven way to prevent such fires," he says.

"The Impact of a Legislative Intervention to Reduce Tap Water Scald Burns in an Urban Community"
Journal of Burn Care & Research (12/01/2007) Vol. 28, No. 6, P. 805; Leahy, Nicole E.; Hyden, Philip J.; Bessey, Palmer Q.

Researchers studied 281 patients who were treated for tap water scalds at a New York City burn center from July 1999 to June 2004. There was considerable morbidity and mortality among the patients. All of the cases occurred in buildings that did not have to comply with new legislation designed to reduce tap water scalds. Estimates of the city's burn care treatment costs range from $102 million to $148 million. The report shows that tap water scald burns remain a problem, and that the city should not restrict compliance to residential buildings that are a certain age or have a certain number of occupants.

"Camp Offers Winter Fun for Young Burn Survivors"
Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA) (01/02/08) Ghiotto, Gene

The Burn Institute: Inland Empire winter camp runs from Feb. 15-18 at the Presbyterian Conference Center in Big Bear Lake, Calif. Burn survivors age five to 18 are invited to attend the camp for a weekend of winter fun. The winter camp, called Camp Beyond the Scars, has room for about 100 campers and still has slots to fill. For that reason, registration for the camp has been extended to Feb. 1. For older kids, there are snow sports like skiing and snowboarding. There are also snow games for the younger set. In addition to the outdoor activities, there will be crafts, games, and peer counseling to help the young survivors share their experiences and connect with other kids who can relate to what they have been through. All food, lodging, and transportation will be provided, along with appropriate winter gear for children who do not have their own. The camp is run by nurses with burn-ward experience and fire fighters, many of whom are burn survivors themselves. The Burn Institute: Inland Empire was founded in 2001 by Inland fire fighters to help treat burn survivors, fund burn care research, and encourage burn prevention.

"Idaho Lawmakers Due to Consider Fire-Safe Cigs"
Casper Star-Tribune (WY) (12/31/07)

A new law that would mandate self-extinguishing, fire-safe cigarettes is being weighed by Idaho lawmakers. Similar laws have already been adopted in 22 other U.S. states, Canada and the European Union. The recent deaths of elderly people in house fires ignited by cigarettes has given the law momentum. "It makes good sense," says state Sen. John McGee (R-Caldwell), who plans to sponsor the bill in the Senate. "If we can save lives by making this a standard practice, then that is an accomplishment." Fire-safe cigarettes are made with fire-retardant paper, which slows burning and self-extinguishes if left unattended.

"Uniplanar External Fixation for Care of Circumferential Extremity Burn Wounds in Adults"
Journal of Burn Care & Research (12/01/2007) Vol. 28, No. 6, P. 892; Konstantakos, Emmanuel K.; Miller, Sidney F.; Dalstrom, David J.

Research has found the uniplanar external fixation (UEF) device to be a safe and effective approach to elevating and stabilizing the extremities of patients with circumferential extremity burns undergoing skin grafting. The UEF device provided favorable access for skin grafting, dressing changes, and postoperative positioning, and minimized shear injury and pressure necrosis of the flesh grafts. The review involved eight patients between the ages of 17 and 62 with third-degree circumferential extremity burns that were to undergo autologous skin grafting within 48 hours after their injury. The research did not uncover any pin-tract infections, loss of skin grafts due to shearing, or peripheral nerve and arterial injuries. One patient with an oversized arm due to morbid obesity had a pin pull-out. More pins in obese patients could be used to prevent the complications of a pin pull-out. None of the other patients developed adverse sequelae from the surgery or the placement of the UEF device.

"Pressure Cookers Recalled Due to Burn Hazard"
Daily Press (Virginia) (12/21/07)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled more than 38,000 pressure cookers because of a closing malfunction. The agency says the lids on the pressure cookers imported by Manttra Inc. do not close as they should. Several reports of burn injuries were reported to Manttra as a result of hot contents spilling out of affected cookers. The recall is for Manttra Smart Series five-piece stainless steel multi cooker sets that bear the model/code number 38270.

"Researchers at University of Texas Target Injury Infection and Critical Care"
NewsRx.com (12/21/07)

Researchers at the University of Texas recently published a study on injury infection and critical care for pediatric burn survivors. The study had four surgeons specializing in pediatric burn care review the medical records of 71 children who died after being admitted to a burn center. The goal of the study was to determine in which cases deviation from optimal care affected the survival rate of patients. Over a 10 year period, just 2.4 percent of pediatric burn patients at the center died, but 25 percent of those deaths were patients with less than half of their body surface area covered by burns. The most frequent cause of death was lung damage, which is considered to be unpreventable under the best care. However, the second and third most frequent causes of death, hypovolemia from inadequate fluid resuscitation and failure to maintain a proper airway, are preventable under the best circumstances. This shows that sub-optimal care does contribute to some deaths in pediatric burn cases. The researchers recommend better quality assurance and education in airway control and fluid resuscitation as the best way to improve the mortality rate for burned children.

"Air Force Provides Army Burn Flight Team With Critical Care Training"
Air Force Print News (12/20/07) Purificato, Rudy

In a new endeavor, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine has begun teaching courses for U.S. Army burn flight professionals in Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) operations. Consequently, Americans injured in combat have a better chance of surviving serious burn injuries. The CCATT course readies aeromedical professionals to perform "critical care in the air." The course uses en route care lessons gleaned from real-world operations, says Lt. Col. Fecura Jr., CCATT course director. Evacuating burn survivors within 24 hours to 48 hours is vital to decreasing the odds of complications and increasing the odds of survival and recovery. "Before Iraq, we did not fly patients who were not stable. Now we fly stabilized patients who could experience an adverse event in flight," explains Maj. Elizabeth Mann, a CCATT course graduate and an Army burn flight team registered nurse. CCATT and Army burn flight teams transport burn survivors from combat regions to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany while providing airborne intensive care. Burn survivors are then transported to the Army Institute of Surgical Research at San Antonio's Brooke Army Medical Center for specialized treatment.

"Healthcare Resource Utilization and Epidemiology of Pediatric Burn-Associated Hospitalizations, United States, 2000"
Journal of Burn Care & Research (12/01/2007) Shields, Brenda; Comstock, R. Dawn

A recent study focused on the epidemiology and economic strain of burn-related hospitalizations for minors under age 18. Around 10,000 children under age 18 were hospitalized for burn-related injuries in this country in 2000. They spent around 66,200 days in the hospital with medical charges of $211,772,700. Overall charges and length of stay for pediatric burn-related hospitalizations in this country in 2000 were connected with severity of burn, amount of overall body surface area burned, the age of the child, location in the United States, hospital facility, and type of hospital. Children two years of age or younger were more likely to be a minority, be hospitalized for burns, and burn their wrists or hands, versus children between the ages of three and 17. Male children in either age group were more likely to be hospitalized for burns than their female counterparts. Children age two or younger were more likely to be burned by vapors, hot liquids, and contact with hot objects or substances, while children between the ages of three and 17 were more likely to be burned by flames or fire. The study is the initial national one on healthcare resource use for pediatric burn-related hospitalizations to employ the Health Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database.

"Chinese Scientists Develop Two-Layer Artificial Skin for Burn Victims"
All Headline News (12/18/07) Bulacan, Annabella

Scientists in China have created a two-layer artificial skin for burn survivors and other patients in need of a skin transplant. Measuring 20 centimeters in diameter, the artificial skin is comparable to a "milky white adhesive film," according to Jin Yan of the Fourth Military Medical University. The artificial skin is made of a dermis layer and an epidermis layer, both of which grow rapidly in synchrony with the original skin. In China, more than 15 million individuals suffer burns each year, and an estimated 3.5 million individuals require a skin transplant, according to recent statistics.

"NEMA Launches 'Real Safety' Campaign to Boost Awareness of Child Electrical Safety"
PRNewswire (12/17/07)

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has rolled out a new educational program to raise awareness about the dangers posed by electrical outlets. Dubbed "Real Safety," the campaign pinpoints the dangers of exposed electrical receptacles present to children, explains the benefits of tamper-resistant receptacles, and encourages the observance of the National Electrical Code's® safety code for electrical outlets. "The tamper-resistant Code® requirement is about safety, period. We have the opportunity to protect thousands of children from electrical burns and spare them visits to emergency rooms," said NEMA technical director Andrei Moldoveanu.

"Researchers From General Hospital Detail Findings in Life Sciences"
Surgery Litigation & Law Weekly (12/14/07) P. 705

A new study conducted by a Beijing hospital investigates the characteristics of and ways to treat severe burn-blast combined injuries. The study resulted from the admission of five patients with burn-blast injuries to a hospital in 2005. The survivors ranged from 80 percent to 97 percent burned, with blast injuries and at least moderate inhalation injury. Treatment included use of antibiotics, early closure of wounds, and protection of organ function. Upon admission, all of the patients had problems with their heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, and coagulation. The treatment helped organs return to normal function. The researchers concluded that although burn-blast injuries can cause organ dysfunctions, there are several courses of treatment that can help a patient survive and recover.

"Perfusion in Burn Injuries Rapidly Determined by Using Improved Laser-Doppler Technology"
Innovations Report (12/14/07)

A new type of imaging technology has been found to make burn evaluation faster and more accurate. Doctors illuminate the burned area with a wide laser beam. A high speed camera then takes pictures of the affected tissue. The result is an instant "Doppler effect" that shows the likelihood of the burn healing on its own. By doing so, physicians are able to evaluate quickly whether or not surgery will be needed. Experts are hopeful this new technique will eliminate the need for unnecessary surgery. Older scanning techniques were extremely time-consuming. Not only did they lose valuable minutes before the need for surgery could be determined, they also required patients to be immobilized for extended periods. Now, using the imaging technique, doctors can view a 10 centimeter by 10 centimeter area in an instant, increasing patient comfort and quality of care.

"Return to School Made Easier With 'The Journey Back'"
Burn Support News (Quarter 4, 2007) No. 3, P. 1; Clark, Amy; Kalil, Maureen

The Phoenix Society provides a school re-entry resource in "The Journey Back," a kit that offers a journal, workbook, tips, and other activities that assist young burn survivors in expressing their emotions about leaving the hospital and returning to school. The kit also includes a DVD that shows how a re-entry program can be set up in schools to prepare teachers and students for the return of a burn-injured youngster. The resource shows that anyone who assists a burn-injured youngster with the re-entry process (social worker, school nurse, fellow burn survivor) can serve as a school re-entry coordinator and give a presentation at the school based on the provided materials. Burn survivor Frank Hensley used "The Journey Back" to design a re-entry program for a class of fourth graders, and said it was flexible enough for him to download pictures of the treatment facility, "aircare" chopper, and the treatment team that served the burn survivor. "That really drew him into the process and gave him sort of hero status," Hensley said of his PowerPoint presentation. The student's classmates "literally devoured the information." Dana Carnduff, a community outreach specialist/juvenile firesetter interventionist, says the kit gave her the confidence to initiate a re-entry program for a young burn survivor.

The inclusion of articles in the IAFF Burn Foundation Briefing does not imply the IAFF or IAFF Burn Foundation's endorsement of their content nor any particular organizations or programs highlighted in these articles. Articles are intended to increase awareness of media coverage of topics relevant to our community and are provided for informational purposes only.

© Copyright 2008 INFORMATION, INC.

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