A Quarter Century of Making a Difference
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Director’s Message Prevention Burn Support Events FFACBI - 20th Anniversary Fire Safe Kids Poster Contest IAFF Burn Camp Boot Drive 2 3 5 6 www.burninstitute.org VOLUME 45, NUMBER 1 SPRING 2011 Celebrating 25 years of Camp Beyond The Scars A Quarter Century of Making a Difference usty hikes, silly songs, warm sunshine and Celebrating its 25th year, Camp Beyond The Scars crafted a successful program that allows for personal lifelong friendships that’s the camp experience is one of the Burn Institute’s most successful burn and emotional growth. Specialized support sessions Dwe all know. Yet for those who plan and survivor support programs, tailored especially for geared to teens and pre-teens encourage children execute the BI’s Camp Beyond The Scars, now in its burn-injured children, 5-17 years. Since 1987, the to share their burn experiences in a safe, nurturing 25th year, there’s an undercurrent of support and unique camp has grown from serving one dozen environment, providing them with the coping tools growth that runs through everything they do – and youngsters to as many as 80 campers each summer and they’ll need on the road to recovery for many, a it goes way beyond the typical week away from Mom winter session. At the same time, Burn Institute staff lifelong journey. and Dad. and its legions of volunteers have, over the many years, (continued on Page 2) NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA 8825 Aero Drive #200, San Diego, CA 92123 PERMIT NO. 1352 BURN INSTITUTE BEACON 2 BEACON (continued from cover) “One of the things I find most amazing about camp is survivors who volunteer their time for the entire week. the bond that the children develop among their fellow One of those is burn survivor Arnell Garcia, Camp burn survivors,” said James Floros, Burn Institute Director and San Diego-Fire Rescue Captain, who has Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer. “No one been involved with Camp Beyond The Scars since can really appreciate the hardship and challenges that a the beginning. The Burn Institute is the local burn survivor faces except another burn survivor. The nonprofit agency dedicated to relationships they forge last a lifetime and really serve Just back from an especially snowy winter session as their most immediate and intimate support system. held in Big Bear, Garcia stresses the importance reducing the number of burn These truly are remarkable individuals who have of peer support and the unique challenges burn- injuries and deaths in San Diego, endured the most devastating injury imaginable. They injured children must face every day. “Camp allows are survivors in the truest sense.” burn-injured children to be Imperial, Riverside and San kids again – and not worry Bernardino counties through fire Of course, the burn-injured children who attend camp about looking different from will still experience all the fun camp classics (skittering everyone else,” he said. and burn prevention education, lizards, late night giggles and learning to craft burn care research and treatment, something lopsided out of Popsicle sticks), but they’ll “Camp Beyond The Scars is a be healing along the way – even if they don’t know it. place where kids can come and and burn survivor support services. just have fun,” Garcia said, Camp must constantly evolve. That’s the key, according adding with a broad grin, “It’s to Dana Kuhn, Burn Institute Support Services a great thing to see.” Manager. Since 2007, Kuhn has taken a leadership role in shaping and fine-tuning the program to reflect cultural changes (the BI is one of the first to implement Board of Directors a consent component related to social media), borrowing from other experts (crisis aversion team to Gerald S. Davee, Esq. safeguard campers), and honing the camp’s support Chairman of the Board and leadership components to keep the program fresh and innovative. Chief David Ott (ret.) President “I think we’re better at what we do,” said Kuhn, who stresses a “camper first” mentality and puts a lot of Chief Bob Pfohl emphasis on the support component. “There’s a lot Vice President / Chief Financial Officer more to it than just camp. The BI is there for the whole journey.” Dale Ganzow Vice President Development Among the camp’s counselors are off-duty firefighters, Michael Pierschbacher, Ph.D. UCSD Regional Burn Center staff and adult burn (Top): Camp Director Arnell Garcia with camper John-Paul Figone in 2008. (Bottom): Camp counselors, summer 2009. Vice President Program Dolores Juditz Dear Friends, Secretary Jeff Berend It seems that just about every year the Burn Institute founding, the FFACBI has donated nearly two million Jim Boland reaches yet another milestone or achievement – and this dollars to ensure that lifesaving fire and burn prevention David Bond year is no different. We are celebrating two milestone programs are conducted, and that burn survivors get Charlie Brown anniversaries this year – the first being the 25th the helping hand they need to overcome their Captain Angelo Cappos Anniversary of our Burn Camp – Camp Beyond The devastating injuries. Don Cowan Scars. But since we discuss camp in our cover story, the Chief Kevin Crawford other milestone I would like to expand on is the 20th Andy Crossland Anniversary of the Firefighters Advisory Council to the So, to all the members of the Theodore S. Drcar, Esq. Burn Institute, or as we refer to it – the FFACBI. FFACBI and the firefighters Chief Augie Ghio Greg Hillgren The FFACBI was started a year prior to my joining who support those efforts Victor Jaime, Ph.D. the Burn Institute in 1991. The two firefighters that Chief Stan Lake (ret.) generally get the credit for leading the establishment of to make our important work R. Anthony Mahavier, Esq. the Council are Ed Montgomery from San Diego Fire possible – congratulations and Chief Javier Mainar and Jeff Beeler from La Mesa Fire. From the get-go, there Jamie Mason was a heavy representation from firefighter unions and THANK YOU! Kevin McNamara associations throughout San Diego County, but these Kenneth J. Miller II two guys were really the tip of the spear. Their reasons Stay safe San Diego! for starting the FFACBI were pretty simple – to create an Timothy O’Malley, Ph.D. organized effort to support the fire service’s #1 partner Bruce Potenza, M.D. – the Burn Institute – and to establish a local burn camp Steve Shea for burn-injured children. In 1994, we achieved that Chief Mitch Villalpando goal by conducting our first local burn camp at Eddie Villavicencio Camp Mataguay. James A. Floros Please remember the Burn Institute in your annual Since those early years, the FFACBI has become the Executive Director/ United Way/CHAD & CFC Campaigns. BI’s largest and most consistent funding source – Chief Executive Officer contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars through Member Agency of Combined Health Agencies events like the Firefighter Boot Drive and the Burn Run (San Diego County) - Fire Expo and Firefighter Demo Derby. Since their United Way (Imperial County) Combined Federal Campaign (San Diego #5581) (Imperial County #7024) DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Fire and Burn Prevention Facts & Tips Fact In 2009, FEMA reports there were more than 103,000 non-residential structure fires in the US, resulting in 105 deaths and 1,690 injuries. Tip Protect your employees while keeping your business OSHA compliant; learn about workplace evacuation plans and how to handle a fire extinguisher. F&T (See page 8 for details) SPRING 2011 BEACON PREVENTION 3 Calling All Artists: Fire Safety Poster Contest DO YOU HAVE o you have a budding Monet or O’Keeffe in the family? Maybe you’re a school teacher who would like to teach your students A STORY TO TELL? important safety tips. Now’s your chance to turn a fun activity D Tell us your wildfire preparation success into a teachable moment for youngsters 5-9 years of age – it’s a win-win! story! Take our quick online survey and The Burn Institute is inviting local children to submit enter to win a free home Emergency original artwork featuring fire and burn prevention safety Preparedness Kit ($250 value). messages for use in its 2012 calendar! Children are asked to submit artwork representing one area of prevention and Share what you have done to safeguard are encouraged to include seasonal references (i.e. holidays, your property and protect your loved ones. summer). Get creative and have fun with it! Visit www.firesafekid.org for Visit www.burninstitute.org for all the more ideas. details – and enter to win! Winning artwork will be used in the 2012 Burn Institute calendar and displayed at the 21st Annual Fire Expo, June 18, 2011, San Diego County Fairgrounds, Del Mar. The Grand Prize winner will get the ride of a lifetime – in a fire engine at the Burn Run Parade! For contest guidelines and info, visit www.burninstitute.org or www.FireSafeKid.org. Questions? Contact Fabianne Furman at (858) 541-2277, Ext. 13. / e-mail [email protected]. Burn Institute Takes Fire Safety on the Road – Local Firefighters Lend a Hand On February 9, El Cajon’s finest joined the Burn For a free downloadable version of “Living Institute in a lively and educational Fire Safe Kids with Wildfire: A Guide for the Homeowner,” presentation for 120 youngsters (K-3) and their visit www.burninstitute.org. For a printed teachers at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in copy, contact your local fire department or El Cajon. visit the Burn Institute, 8825 Aero Drive, BI Community Outreach Specialist, Fabianne Furman, Suite 200, San Diego 92123. kicked-off the colorful presentation at the school’s For more information, call the Burn Institute auditorium, touching on important fire and burn at 858-541-2277.