Child Burn Survivors Learn to Heal and Thrive With Help of Fire Fighters at the IAFF International Burn Camp

Pat Morrison September 16, 2013 09:51

More than 40 teenage burn survivors from across North America will attend the 18th International Burn Camp  September 21-28 in the Nation’s Capital. The week-long program provides a unique support system for these young burn survivors.

No one understands better than the fire fighters who serve as camp counselors that burns leave scars that last a lifetime and emotional wounds that can take years to heal. The International burn camp gives these youngsters an opportunity to be together in a nurturing environment of understanding and shared experience.

Campers will spend the week touring the Washington, DC monuments, memorials and museums and are given the opportunity to meet national leaders and local fire fighters. They will spend the night at Camp Wabanna in Edgewater, Maryland, where they will take part in team building and peer support activities.

Follow updates from the camp and see the activities experienced by campers.

Each year, the IAFF Charitable Foundation selects young burn survivors ages 13-15 and professional fire fighters/camp counselors from regional burn camps across the United States and Canada to attend the camp, which is funded by donations from the Foundation and run by professional fire fighters who donate their time to help create a better quality of life for kids affected by burn trauma. To make a donation to the IAFF Charitable Foundation Burn Fund visit: http://www.iafffoundation.org/causes/burn-fund

Each year, more than 500,000 people suffer from burn injuries. The most common burns are scald burns. The IAFF Burn Fund helps to raise awareness about burn safety and funds for burn research.

The IAFF Burn Fund has successfully distributed more than $2.5 million in funding for burn research through its research grant program.

Read about camp activities from the 2012 International Burn Camp.

Original author: Pat Morrison
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