[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      NATIONAL BURN AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2001

  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the importance of National Burn Awareness Week that was 
observed February 4-10, 2001. Burn Awareness Week provides an 
opportunity to educate children and families about the risks that lead 
to unfortunate and tragic accidents, particularly for the youngest and 
most vulnerable--our babies and children. The children of Boston who 
have been the victims of burn accidents have been benefiting from the 
service of the Shriners Hospitals for Children since 1968 when the 
Boston burn center first opened.
  Unfortunately, infants and young children face greater risks from 
burn injuries than adults or older children. They rely more on the 
adults around them to ensure their environment is safe and free from 
potential burn-causing hazards. That is why in addition to treating 
over 20 percent of all pediatric burns in the nation at their four 
national burn centers in Boston, Galveston, Cincinnati and Sacramento, 
Shriners Hospitals focus on education and prevention of burn injuries.
  The Shriners Hospitals for Children is a unique charitable 
organization that has never sought nor received federal, state, local 
or third party funding of any kind. Additionally, Shriners Hospitals 
are distinctive in that they offer full physical, psychological, and 
emotional care to all the children they treat.
  With the 2001 budget for the 22 orthopaedic and burn hospitals 
totaling $567 million, and with an active patient roster at over 
156,000 children, it is obvious how important the Shriners Hospitals 
are to the health of our children. The Shriners Hospitals are 100 
percent free, despite the fact that they will spend $1.55 million 
dollars on children every 24 hours in 2001.
  In recognition of Burn Awareness Week, Mr. Speaker, I ask my 
colleagues to commend such charitable organizations as the Shriners 
Hospitals that contribute greatly to the care, education, and research 
necessary to treat and work to prevent children's burn accidents.

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