Don’t get burned: Shriners promote awareness to keep kids from injury

This is Burn Awareness Week and the Shriners—members of the fraternal organization that operates 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout North America—want people to take the necessary steps to prevent flammable liquid and gasoline-related burns.

"The greatest tragedy is that most burn injuries are preventable," said M. Burton Oien, president and CEO of the Shriners of North America. "Every year Shriners get involved in Burn Awareness Week to help people prevent dangerous burns. This year we hope to decrease the number of flammable liquid and gasoline-related burns."

Shriners Hospitals offer the following tips to prevent gasoline-related burns:

•Keep flammable products, matches and lighters locked up and out of the reach of children.

•Teach children about the dangers of flammable products and vapors.

•Store and use flammable liquids only in approved containers and in well-ventilated areas, away from all sources of ignition, including: hot engines, cigarette lighters or matches, pilot lights on gas appliances, electrical heaters, electrical switches and static electricity.

•Supervise older children/teenagers when filling engines such as lawnmowers with gasoline. Allow an engine to cool before adding more gasoline.

•Always fuel power mowers and other equipment outside where there is adequate ventilation.

•In case of accidental spills, wash yourself and remove clothing immediately.

•Do not store gasoline in your basement or other living areas in the home; store only a minimal amount or none at all when gasoline is not needed for several weeks.

•Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to elevate the water heater at least 18 inches above the floor level.

Known as the experts in pediatric burn care, Shriners Hospitals operate four burn hospitals in Galveston, Cincinnati, Boston and Sacramento. Through intensive research and state-of-the-art clinical care, a burned child’s chance of survival has more than doubled since the Shriners first opened the burn hospitals in the mid-1960s. Much of today’s research now focuses on improving the quality of life for burn survivors.

The 22 Shriners Hospitals provide care without charge to children up to their 18th birthday. The Shriners of North America, an international fraternity with about 485,000 members in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama, founded the hospital system.

The Shriners offer a free booklet on burn prevention. For a copy of "Burn Prevention Tips," write to the Public Relations Department, Shriners International Headquarters, P.O. Box 31356, Tampa, FL 33631-3356, or visit the Shriners and Shriners Hospitals’ Website at www.shrinershq.org.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.