BURN INJURIES LAST FOREVER

BY: Bud Gundersen, LAFD Ret.

A five-year-old boy walks past the coffee pot at a church social; he reaches up and pulls on the handle. When the Engine Company I was working on arrived, large sheets of skin were falling off of his torso and legs. I can still hear his screams whenever I see a simple pot of coffee within reach of little hands.

Burn injuries are both extremely painful and slow healing. Many doctors consider serious burns to be the most painful category of injury. In addition to the pain of the initial injury, burn survivors must suffer through numerous surgeries and skin grafts. Young burn survivors suffer the most. Skin grafts do not expand and must be continually replaced during the growing years.

Burn survivors also face tremendous emotional pain. The stares, questions and well-meant over-protection and sympathy often overwhelm a burn survivor. Burn injuries force a radical change in a person's life. Doubts are raised about identity and self-worth. Strong friendships can crumble, previous physical skills can become challenges, and long hospitalization and recuperation can set back schooling and careers.

Burn survivors require very specialized care and support. The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation was founded to provide this unique assistance. The Foundation is a living memorial to Alisa Ann Ruch, an eight-year-old who was fatally burned in a backyard barbecue accident.

The Foundation's programs are designed to relieve a burn survivor's emotional as well as physical suffering and help them build the skills necessary to cope with a society that won't let them forget they were burned. Programs include support groups, special events and a summer camp for burn injured children and teenagers.

The Burn Foundation is also actively involved in burn prevention education and has been extremely successful in bringing specialized curriculums and materials to students of all grade levels. The nationally recognized " Stop, Drop and Roll" and "Cool-A-Burn" programs are familiar to most students.

The Burn Foundation is administered by a dedicated and caring corps of volunteers. There is an ongoing need for volunteers to provide assistance with various programs. If you are interested in more information about this wonderful organization, please call (800) 242-BURN. If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution, the address is: Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, 20944 Sherman Way # 115, Canoga Park, Ca 91303. This volunteer organization provides tremendous assistance and support to burn survivors.