[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E155-E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BURN AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to Burn 
Awareness Week. The tragic events of September 11th have created many 
enduring memories. The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon 
not only reminded us of our vulnerabilities to acts of terror but have 
also demonstrated the horrific nature of burn injuries.
  Burn injuries are among the most painful and traumatic injuries one 
can suffer. Historically, few patients survived serious burn injuries, 
however because of significant advances in treatment over recent years, 
this is no longer the case.
  I am privileged to have one of the leading burn treatment and 
research facilities in the country in my Congressional District: The 
Shriners Hospital for Children Burn Unit. One of four in the country, 
the Shriners Hospital has pioneered numerous breakthroughs in burn 
treatment. Not long ago, patients with burns over 50 percent of their 
body would probably not survive. Today, individuals with burns over 90 
percent have a much greater chance of survival.
  The four national burn centers run by the Shriners Hospitals treat 
over 20 percent of all pediatric burn injuries in the United States--
more than 156,000 children last year alone. These children were treated 
free of charge and the hospital does not accept insurance or parental 
reimbursement. These hospitals provide much more than just treatment. 
They focus on education and prevention to ensure that burn injuries do 
not occur, as well as on the psychological and emotional care necessary 
to restore children who suffer burn injuries to full physical and 
mental well being.
  Burn Awareness Week provides an opportunity to educate children and 
families about certain risks of burn injury that can be avoided. For 
example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission relaxed the safety 
standards for children's sleepwear in 1996. This resulted in a sharp 
increase in the number of children suffering sleep-wear related burn 
injuries. Shriners Hospitals have led the effort in Congress to restore 
stricter safety standards for

[[Page E156]]

sleepwear and to educate parents regarding the dangers inherent in 
untreated sleepwear worn by many children.
  Burn Awareness Week can help foster awareness among parents and 
protect young children from the horrors of burn injuries. It also 
focuses additional attention on the research and treatment of those 
burn injuries that do occur. Mr. Speaker, charitable organizations such 
as Shriners Hospitals deserve great credit for their outstanding work 
on behalf of our Nation's children. I rise today to recognize and 
support the efforts of the Shriners Hospital in Boston and the 
importance of Burn Awareness Week.

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