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Win The Spirit Custom Harley Davidson Motorcycle!!

"Burn Victim's Campaign"
"Trident Burn Clinic Serving Area's Growing Need"
"Red Carpet Rolls Out for Burn Survivors"
"Burn Victim Has Message of Hope"
"Healing Wounds and Bringing Hope"
"Making a Difference by Being There"
"Research on Burn Care Described by Scientists at School of Medicine, Department of Plastic Surgery"
"Virtual Reality Games Help Burn Patients"
"Stanford University Medical Center Provides Information on Its Latest News and Research Developments"
"Researchers' Data From University of Michigan, U.S., Highlight New Research"
"Burn Survivors Offer Support at Annual Picnic"
"Fire Prevention and Safety Tips"
"Iraqi Boy Undergoes Burn Surgery in Valley"
"As Good as New: Scarless Healing"
"Take These Steps for Fire and Burn Prevention"

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)

"Burn Victim's Campaign"
Toronto Globe & Mail (10/09/07) Peritz, Ingrid

Quebec City resident Anny Berthiaume, who was burned on more than 55 percent of her body as a child due to a methanol explosion during a family camping trip, will be the spokeswoman and public representative for the province of Quebec's fire-prevention week. The 36-year-old will be shown on road signs and posters throughout the province to warn individuals about the risk of fires. Berthiaume was injured when she was six years old. Among children under the age of two, hot liquids are the most common cause of burns, while for two- to seven-year-olds, it is lighters, matches, and stovetops. Berthiaume has concentrated on utilizing her experience to do good; she is currently married and has two children, and has a career as a respiratory therapist, as well as visits schools to talk about fire prevention and safety.

"Trident Burn Clinic Serving Area's Growing Need"
Charleston Post and Courier (10/04/07) Whipper, Jasiri

The Joseph M. Still Burn Clinic at Trident Medical Center is steadily growing. Only open since July 18, the outpatient clinic already helps almost 30 burn survivors every week, a number that is expected to keep increasing. The clinic, located in Charleston, S.C., provides a necessary service to local burn survivors. Before its opening, adult burn survivors had to drive to Georgia to get outpatient treatment.

"Red Carpet Rolls Out for Burn Survivors"
US Fed News (10/03/07)

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) National Children's Burn Camp recently brought young burn survivors to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong visit to meet local fire fighters and see historic landmarks. The children who attended the 13th IAFF National Children's Burn Camp come from burn camps nationwide, as well as Canadian burn camps. In September, the children attended a luncheon at Fort Myer that included a concert, a performance by the U.S. Army Drill team, and excursions to the Caisson stables and Arlington National Cemetery, where four of the children participated in a wreath-laying ceremony; this was the fourth time camp attendees have visited Fort Myer. IAFF National Children's Burn Camp Coordinator Linda French explains that burn camps are similar to traditional camps, but include activities to enhance self-esteem along with standard outdoor activities like horseback riding. Two members of the Phoenix Society were also present to speak to the children and demonstrate that support groups for adult burn survivors exist as well.

"Burn Victim Has Message of Hope"
Vancouver Province (10/03/07) P. A28; Grindlay, Lora

The 19th World Burn Congress in Vancouver brought together 650 burn survivors, fire fighters, and other professionals from seven countries. This year's congress was sponsored by the B.C. Professional Fire Fighter's Burn Fund, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, two local burn units, and the Phoenix Society. The Congress's keynote speakers included George Pessotti, Kim Phuc, and Vivian Pellas. Pessotti has been working to help burn survivors for many years, helping them to move beyond their injuries. "I accept my burns," he says. "My burns do not define who I am. I think a life should be judged by what a person has to offer on the inside, not what they look like on the outside."

"Healing Wounds and Bringing Hope"
ABC News (10/03/07) Hartenstein, Meena; Hill, James; Hennessey, Jaimie

An innovative collaboration between doctors at the UCLA Medical Center and the U.S. military has produced Operation Mend, a program that will provide returning service members who have sustained burn injuries with access to the nation's best private-sector plastic surgeons. Philanthropist Ronald Katz conceived of the initiative after spending time with injured veterans and feeling compelled to find a way to offer top-quality care to wounded service members. Timothy Miller, the chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCLA Medical Center, is himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, and completed his surgical internship at the Brooke Army Medical Center, the military's best burn treatment center. Now, UCLA's Medical Center and Brooke's Burn Center will pick patients to fly to UCLA for additional reconstructive surgery. The first patient selected for Operation Mend is Cpl. Aaron Mankin, a Marine whose vehicle exploded in 2005 after rolling over an explosive device.

"Making a Difference by Being There"
Vancouver Province (10/03/07) P. B42; Kuzma, Ben

The B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund Camp in British Columbia gives young burn survivors a place to connect and be themselves. It also gives many of the fire fighters who volunteer at the camp a chance to see the kids, ages 16 through 18, whose lives they have saved. The camp's director, fire fighter Heather Wilson, was only two weeks away from the end of her pregnancy but still chose to attend this year. When asked what motivated her to show such devotion she replied, "I'm pretty committed and I knew it was something I really wanted to do." Tony Burke, the camp's executive director, is another fire fighter dedicated to helping kids and their families heal from burns. He notes new camp parents are often "very hesitant or don't understand. The biggest challenge is gaining confidence that your kids are going to be fine--even after they've had a major traumatic injury."

"Research on Burn Care Described by Scientists at School of Medicine, Department of Plastic Surgery"
Surgery Litigation & Law Weekly (09/28/07)

In a pilot study published in the Journal of Surgical Research, scientists examined human burn wounds via 2D-difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) and mass spectrometry to identify actively variable proteins within the burn environment that could ultimately be used as treatment targets. In humans, a multitude of dynamic alterations are triggered by a thermal cutaneous injury, and yet the molecular mechanisms that cause such agitations are poorly understood, according to the researchers. In this investigation, the research team assayed protein extracts of both burn wounds and clear skin with DIGE technology. Later, 46 proteins were chosen for identification via mass spectrometry. Predictable cytoskeletal proteins like vimentin were indeed classified as proteins with differential temporal patterns of expression. Other proteins found to be possibly involved in healing were members of the serpin family, heat shock protein 90, and haptoglobin, among others. The joint DIGE/mass spectrometry method enabled the scientists to glean new insights about cutaneous responses to burn trauma and ensuing processes of initial wound healing, explains A.C. Pollins of the School of Medicine. Overall, "This pilot study provides a proteomic snapshot of temporal events that can be used to weave together the interconnected processes that define the response to serious cutaneous injury," concluded the researchers.

"Virtual Reality Games Help Burn Patients"
Science Daily (09/28/07)

Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is using virtual reality video games to relax young burn survivors while they have their wounds treated, say healthcare insiders. Patients put on a virtual reality helmet to enter a different environment with child life specialists in tow to give assistance, a method which researchers say is successful in alleviating stress. "Research shows a very strong connection between anxiety and pain--distraction does a great job in decreasing any kind of anxiety that might be associated with the anticipated procedures," says Catherine Butz, a psychologist at Nationwide. Butz says it is commonly known that burn treatment, which includes cleaning and changing dressing, is often more painful than the burn itself, but believes children have a less unpleasant experience when they use the virtual reality gaming equipment.

"Stanford University Medical Center Provides Information on Its Latest News and Research Developments"
Disease Prevention Week (09/25/07) P. 846

Research by Geoffrey Gurtner of the Stanford University School of Medicine sheds new light on the pathophysiology of scarring and is anticipated to facilitate the development of novel therapeutic treatments for scarring. As a surgery resident at Boston Shriner's Hospital, Gurtner treated young burn survivors on a regular basis and realized that surgery was not the best answer. Gurtner has spent six years in the laboratory seeking better solutions for decreasing and, ideally, eradicating scarring. Of late, Gurtner's research has made significant progress in explaining why scars form, which means new therapies may be just one year or two years away, says Gurtner. Gurtner's paper proved that tension and mechanical stresses on the skin are bad for wounds and promote scar formation. Gurtner also discovered that scarring seems to happen mostly during the seven-day interval immediately following the wound's advent. This suggests that therapeutic treatment would be most effective during the key interval early in the healing process. Moreover, Gurtner's study, which will be published in FASEB, found that the physical environment of human wounds plays a large role in how the skin heals.

"Researchers' Data From University of Michigan, U.S., Highlight New Research"
Preventive Medicine Week (09/23/07)

L.M. Hoesel and colleagues at the University of Michigan examined the impact of C5a blockade on cardiac dysfunction provoked by burn injury. Inflammatory mechanisms involved in burn injury can produce the anaphylatoxin C5a, the generation of which has been tied to the development of cardiac dysfunction, say scientists. However, the researchers discovered that an in vivo blockade of C5a assuages cardiac dysfunction caused by burn injury. Additional weakening of contractility because of the exposure of cardiomyocytes to bacterial LPS was thwarted, in part, by C5a blockade. These findings indicate a relationship between C5a and burn-induced cardiac dysfunction and a potential role of LPS in such events, conclude the researchers.

"Burn Survivors Offer Support at Annual Picnic"
WDEF (09/22/07) Williams, Abena

At the 9th annual picnic for burn survivors treated at the Erlanger Hospital burn unit in Chattanooga, Tenn., survivors and family members reconnected and bonded over common struggles. Jesse Sullivan, who lost his arms in an electrical accident in 2001, noted that many picnic attendees were present at the hospital when he first was hurt. Such individuals can answer Sullivan's questions better than anyone else because of their familiarity with his experience, Sullivan explained. Phyllis Dyar, a nurse in the Erlanger burn unit, said that her patients come to seem like her family. Dyar enjoys helping her patients recover and re-enter society, though she is also aware that burn survivors face multiple challenges even after they have recuperated physically. Dyar is familiar with burn survivors who are anxious about how they will be received in society because of their appearance. Sullivan also helps burn survivors; he participates in a pilot program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where he acts as a "guinea pig" for innovative nerve transplants. One such trial led to the creation of improved prosthetic arms for injured soldiers, Sullivan attested.

"Fire Prevention and Safety Tips"
Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (09/21/07) P. 2

Safety experts offer several fire prevention tips. When cooking, homeowners should always stay within safe distance of the kitchen, and keep items such as dishtowels, plastic bags, paper, or curtains away from burners. This includes sleeves and loose-fitting clothes. Another hazard is space heaters. Safety experts recommend that heaters be at least three feet away from combustibles such as curtains or newspapers, and turned off whenever leaving the room or going to bed. It is also important that homeowners have their fireplaces, chimneys, and wood and coal stoves checked at least once a year, and keep glass or metal screens in front of fireplaces. Any ashes from the fireplace, or from cigarette or cigar butts, should be discarded in a deep ashtray on a table or another sturdy surface. Lit candles should be situated in candleholders made of material that is not flammable, and never left unattended. Homeowners should also avoid overloading electrical sockets with too many appliances and know how to use a fire extinguisher. Most important, homeowners should have a strategy to exit the home in the event of a fire or another emergency.

"Iraqi Boy Undergoes Burn Surgery in Valley"
ABC7 News (CA) (09/20/07) Alpert, Adrienne

At the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, Calif., a young Iraqi boy named Youssif has commenced with a series of surgeries to heal his face, which was badly burned after Youssif was set on fire by insurgents near Baghdad. Youssif's father divulged the incident to a CNN TV crew in Iraq in August. The public reacted with an outpouring of generosity; over 13,000 individuals donated money to the Children's Burn Foundation to help Youssif, raising a total of $300,000 for the six-year-old boy's medical treatment. Youssif will need eight surgeries to recover, and the process may take up to one year. Peter Grossman of the Burn Center is "very pleased" with the progress made to date. However, donations are still needed for Youssif's family's expenses, as well as for the 500 young burn survivors treated by the Children's Burn Foundation annually.

"As Good as New: Scarless Healing"
New Scientist (09/19/07) P. 42; Pilcher, Helen

Researchers are working to discover how to mimic the healing process seen in surgeries on preborn babies. Fetal surgeries are renowned for leaving little to no scarring on their subjects. Mark Ferguson of the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom is leading the way in the study of embryonic healing. His research has pinpointed a genetic strain called transforming growth factor beta proteins (TGFBs), which are released by immune cells. The proteins prompt wound inflammation and are believed to trigger new skin growth. Wounds in embryonic tissue that heal without scarring have a high TGFB3 count, but low TGFB1 and TGFB2 levels. Testing found that scarring in certain subjects was reduced or eliminated when TGFB1 and TGFB2 counts were lowered and TGFB3 counts were raised. Ferguson believes the treatment would be especially beneficial to burn wounds and skin grafts.

"Take These Steps for Fire and Burn Prevention"
First Draft (09/07)

A report by the Home Safety Council (HSC) notes 57 percent of injuries caused by fire and burns happen at home. To prevent these kinds of injuries, the HSC recommends homeowners take several essential steps. First, set the building's water heater temperature below 120 degrees. Next, ensure fire alarms are installed on every floor of the house, that they are tested monthly, and that their batteries are changed on an annual basis. Finally, create a fire escape plan and be sure all members of the family practice it at least twice a year.

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 2007 INFORMATION, INC.

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