Central Coast Relay

Firefighters, Sparky the Dog and Smokey the Bear demonstrating prevention messages.

The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Burn Relay in San Luis Obisbo County had two goals this year; raising money for the foundation and teaching fire safety.  It was very apparent that both of these goals were met as firefighters gathered at the Farmers’ Market in San Luis Obispo Thursday night after a day of visiting schools throughout the county.

They were joined by Action News’ own Tony Cipolla and Sheri Small teaching fire safety to more than 6,000 kids across the county.

AARBF would like to send a special thank you to each of the participating agencies:  Arroyo Grande Fire, Atascadero City Fire, Camp Roberts Fire, Cayucos Fire, Grover Beach Fire, Morro Bay Fire, Paso Robles Departments of Emergency Services, Oceano Fire, San Luis Obispo Fire, San Miguel Fire, Santa Margarita Fire, Templeton Fire, Diablo Canyon Fire, Hearst Castle Fire, CAL FIRE/San Luis Obisbo County Fire, Cambria Fire Department, Diablo Canyon Fire. This event would not be without the continued support of the Chiefs in each of these communities.  We would also like to personally thank Captain Steve Knuckles of the Morro Bay Fire Department, Bill Murphy, Chief Rikki Heath, and  Es Berliner with CAL FIRE for their continued dedication to organize and execute such a wonderful event.

Firefighters were able to raise nearly $13,000 for the foundation!  To view photos please visit click here.

Have a Fun, Not Scary Halloween

By: Amy Hengst

Halloween is supposed to be spooky in a fun way, not terrifying. But when I was just seven, my costume caught fire and I ended up in the hospital for a week.

My story will show you why it’s important to follow fire safety tips for Halloween.

Our neighbors around the corner had set up a haunted house in their garage that year. I was waiting in line and peered inside. There I saw a skeleton, lit by black–light, sitting up in mechanical slow motion.

What my mom didn’t know was the neighbor’s kids had set up the haunted

house, and had put pumpkins around the yard with candles behind them.

My skirt grazed a candle, and I looked down and saw the bright orange flames. I was on fire. I couldn’t think—I just started running.

My mother knew “Stop, Drop, & Roll” and pushed me to the ground to put the fire out. When the firefighters arrived, they held up my arm to pour cold liquid over my burns. I could see black folds of skin and grass peeling off.

After the accident, I was hospitalized for a week and wore pressure garments for two years to reduce scarring.

Since then, products like battery tea­–lights and fire–retardant costumes have become more commonplace. Yet, accidents still happen.

Follow these tips to keep your kids and neighbors safe for Halloween:

• Use electric or battery lights instead of candles.
• If you must use candles, place them carefully inside the pumpkin
• Keep lit candles out of reach of dangling clothing or props
• Supervise children carefully while setting out decorations and trick-or-treating
• Wear fire–retardant costumes
• Remember, “Stop, Drop & Roll.”
• Check that children’s costume props aren’t sharp and make sure they are carrying props safely
• Help point out and educate children about any dangers you see
• Be aware of other holiday dangers when carving pumpkins, baking, and so on.
• Use safety tools, and keep fire, hot water, and other dangerous elements out of reach.”

Be Fire Smart and Don’t Get Burned

October 4-10th is Fire Prevention Week, a time to focus on burn awareness and prevention. Keep your family and home safe from the leading causes of home fires.

Here are some tips to prevent fires in your home:

• Make sure your furnace or chimney is checked every year.
• Check to see if you smoke detector is working properly once a month.
• When you change your clocks, change the batteries in your smoke detector.
• Make sure all electrical cords are in good condition.
• Plug appliances and lights into separate outlets.
• Put portable space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch fire and never leave them on when there is no adult supervision.
• Develop a home escape plan – get instructions here.
• Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended, especially if you have children.
• Keep your clothes dryer vent and filter free of lint.

In 2007, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 399,000 house fires and 2,865 deaths reported in the United States. Most of these fires and injuries can be prevented by taking basic safety precautions and practicing a family escape plan. So when you go home, review this information with your family to stay fire smart and to not get burned.

For more fire safety checklists and interactive games, visit NFPA!

To learn more about how to prevent burns and fires, call your local AARBF office and speak with a burn prevention coordinator.

USS Hornet 2009

Welcome to the USS Hornet!

You are invited to attend the AARBF USS Hornet overnight adventure on Saturday, November 7^th in Alameda. Your family will experience what life was like aboard a “floating city,” and explore the decks of this famous WWII ship from the captain’s bridge, and the engine room. Take a thrilling ride on the flight simulator and investigate modern and vintage aircrafts. You will be walking in the footsteps of astronauts and heroes because the Hornet was chosen to recover the first men to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 and 12 lunar mission astronauts! The USS Hornet event is $25 per person and includes dinner and breakfast. Scholarships may be available. For more information, or to register, call Carolyn in the San Francisco Office at 1-800-755-BURN.

The Tropical Getaway 2009

The Getaway 2008 participants

The Getaway 2009

Join us for a weekend away from it all! This year AARBF is transforming our camp for adult burn survivors and their families into the “The Tropical Getaway 2009.”  Over the Labor Day weekend, September 5^th -7^th, 2009 at Camp Oakhurst, AARBF will be bringing people from all over California to reconnect, meet other families… and try something new!

Some highlights planned for The Getaway this year:

Support Groups:  Each day adults will have the opportunity to talk about challenges they face and ways they are working through those challenges. 

Kids’ Club:  Every day kids of all ages will have activities to participate in, including a nature hike, obstacle course and arts and crafts.

Talent Show: It’s back! Bring your talent and show case your family’s talents and be the star of the show.

Family Olympics: Everyone will work together to compete in the all-camp Olympic games that will involve water games, races and tons of fun.

High Ropes Course:  Participants will have the opportunity to complete an obstacle course 30 feet in the air, face your fears with your family by your side.

 

Every aspect of camp is designed to give families the chance to enjoy each other, so join us this year as we transform Camp Oakhurst into your family’s Tropical Getaway.  Can’t wait to see you and your families there!

Please click here to acces the event and the registration information.  If you have any questions please contact Elizabeth Long at elong@aarbf.org or 1-888-492-BURN (2876)

Tips for a Safe Summer

 

Practice vigilance and protect your family from fire and burn injuries this summer! According to the American Burn Association (ABA), outdoor grilling and fireworks cause a shocking 12,000 fires a year and over 4,000 deaths are fire and burn-related.

You can keep the summer fun and safe by following these practical and easy safety tips:

Sun Safety

• Keep children under two years old out of direct sun.
• Always use and reapply sunscreen with a UV-A and UV-B protection.
• Use sun protective clothing.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• If sunburned, do not treat it with petroleum jelly, butter, harsh soaps, over-the-counter benzocaine sprays or toothpaste. Instead, use a cool compress or flush it with cool water.

Outdoor Cooking and Camp Fires

• Establish a kid free zone 10 feet around campfires and grills; use chalk to draw a boundary line!
• Never add gasoline or starter fluid to warm coals or leave a fire unattended.
• Keep a fire extinguisher and water accessible.
• Never bury hot coals in sand –extinguish them with water instead.

Fireworks

• Fireworks cause 10,000 injuries yearly, including 4,500 children; 
• Never allow children access to fireworks.
• Do not light fireworks near buildings, trees, or other flammable surfaces and materials.
• Do not hold lit fireworks!
• Leave fireworks to the professionals.

Boating

• Inspect fuel valves and connections frequently.
• Never smoke during refueling.
• Wash skin that has been exposed to gasoline thoroughly.
• Show guests the location of any fire extinguishers.

Emergency Burn Care                                  

• If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP, ROLL!
• You can cool a burn by running cool, not cold, water on it for 15 minutes.
• Remove all clothing from the burn.

Cover with a clean dry cloth and call 911.

For a full toolbox of summer safety tips, check out ABA’s Guide to Summer Safety.

A First-Timer’s Experience of the Bear Valley Ski Trip

Wyatt and Daniel

I had such a great time at Bear Valley. I got to see my old friends and even got to make new ones. My counselors were great. I think the best one was probably Knobby because he made the boring times in the car seem fun and was just really funny.

I think the best time I had was when I successfully went down a steep hill and made it down my first try ever. It was also really cool when the girls came in at night and played games with us. Ding Dong had this ball that shocks you when you shake it and we got the girls pretty good.

What I thought was also pretty amazing was the dedication to the campers. The firefighters did awesome by feeding us at night and morning. I’d just like to say thank you to everybody for making this possible.

            Thank you,

                        Wyatt, age 12

YAS is where the heart is…..

Svetlana

 

By: Svetlana Granvold

My experience at the Young Adult Summit (YAS) has been an interesting one! Many youth who attend find it very favorable to their growth.

Personally, the experience has been more then a journey; it has been a fulfillment of my needs and a reminder that I need to stay on track and be happy with my life.  When I say this, I mean that the Summit has given me opportunities to seek out knowledge and experiences.  Learning how to budget, eat healthy, be positive, and to know the importance of pursuing an education are all things I have learned and taken away from YAS.

Lastly, I wanted to add that the event provided me with a comforting family feeling every time I am with my group of peers and the counselors that attend. The weekend makes everything seem like you’re at home. Home is where the heart is, and to me, heart is where the people of the Young Adult Summit are!

AARBF’s Upcoming 7th Annual Firefighter Bachelor Auction

2009 Bachelor Auction

SOUND THE ALARMS! It’s the ladies’ event of the season– the red hot, 7th Annual Firefighter Bachelor Auction! Even though I’ve been out and about to several great community fundraisers for AARBF, the Bachelor Auction will be my first AARBF-produced event… and I can’t wait!

On April 24th at the Red Devil Lounge, Bay Area firefighters with hearts of gold will take to the stage amid hundreds of adoring ladies to raise money for AARBF’s burn survivor support services. We’ve secured some really great bachelors who are very eager to raise as much as they can for AARBF. And the ladies who win their bids will go on a luxurious and memorable date with their bachelors—the date is shaping up to be a magical evening that they won’t soon forget!

Event Producer Emily Goldman has returned to organize this fun and unpredictable night. We’ve been pounding pavement to secure some amazing supporters to make this year’s event super successful. We’re elated to have the support of Men’s Wearhouse, W Hotel, Nob Hill Spa, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, Americano Restaurant, One Stop Party Shop, Cheese Plus, CalShakes, IntimaGirl, Tango Diva, S-Factor, Cynsational Delights, Sugarmonkey, Tolomei and Associates, Podesta Baldocci, Author Richard Goldman, It’s Just Lunch, Divalicious Productions, Crunch Fitness, Oakland Fire Department Station 20, San Francisco International Beer Festival, and Kaia Foods. It’s going to be a great evening!

Tickets are still available, but going quickly. VIP admission is $50 and includes an exclusive VIP reception, meet and greet with the bachelors, premiere seating in the VIP lounge, goodie bags for the first 50 VIPs, yummy treats… and more! General admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. A performance by 80s cover band, Pop Rocks follows the auction. This event is for ages 21 and older only.

Get your tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/57700. Hope to see you all there!

Jessica Derrick

Director of Development and AARBF Supporter!

Burn ordeal blesses Teen

Emily Schoettler at UMC while being treated for her burns.

By Emily Schoettler,

The day after Labor Day in 1996, an unexpected tragedy changed my family’s and my life forever. However, what some may consider a horrific accident, I consider a blessing.

When I was 3 years old, I experienced a nasty case of croup. The affliction caused my diaphragm to close up and I was unable to breathe. As a normal routine, my mom started filling up the shower to steam the bathroom. When I had prior croup attacks, I would sit in the steamy bathroom. This would help my lungs open up so I could breathe.

Unfortunately, the shower method took too long. Thinking quick, my mom filled a cooking pot with water and boiled it. Racing to my bed where I was laying down, she set the boiling water next to me so I could inhale the steam.

While laying down, I managed to elbow the pot and the water poured onto my right shoulder, upper arm and chest.

In shock, I repeated with no cries or screams, “Mommy, it’s hot, I just want to go to bed.”

My mom, more horrified than me, reacted fast and stripped me of my nightgown. Along with my pajamas, my skin was pulled because of the third degree burns I had experienced. My stepfather raced into my room after heard my mom panicking.

Frantically, my mom scooped me up and drove 90 mph to Kaiser Permanente from my house in Madera. From Kaiser an ambulance rushed me to the UMC Burn Unit in Downtown Fresno. During my time in the Burn Unit, I was treated by the best doctors and nurses in the state.

Unfortunately, I did not want to eat anything. This hindered new skin growth because of the lack of nutrients. As a substitute, a feeding tube was fed down my throat.

As a result of my burns, I needed surgery for a skin graft. They sliced thin pieces of skin off my back and stitched the grafts to my blistered flesh.

Three weeks later, I was released and sent back home. For a year I was forced to wear tight, form-fitting pressure garments so my skin grafts would not expand and bubble.

As a teenager, image seems to be everything. Perfect body size and looks become a priority for many girls my age.

I struggled with being insecure about a large scar on my shoulder and chest for a long time. Tank tops and bathing suits can be very uncomfortable for me even today. The stares from others can be awkward, yet the worries lessen as I mature.

When I tell people who ask me about my scar, everyone asks me a question that makes me laugh: “Did it hurt?” I often jokingly reply that it merely tickled.

Finally, I realized how truly blessed I am. This past summer I had the opportunity of going to a camp for burn survivors for kids from ages 5-16, called Champ Camp. One thing I can say after that trip is God is so good to me.

Spending a week around kids my age who had shared my same struggles made me strong. It was such an inspiration to see little kids who had far worse scars than me appear to have no worries in life.

I also got to speak to some girls in my cabin about how I live with a burn. I encouraged them to ignore what other people think, explaining how blessed they should feel for being alive.

I plan on returning to the camp next year and have been recommended as a counselor-in-training when I turn 18. The trip forever changed my life and I hope I can continue helping other burn victims.

So while others tell me how sorry they are for me and how awful the experience surely was, I explain how I am not truly affected. God makes everything happen for a reason. Although my mom will never forgive herself and takes the blame, I always tell her my burn turned out a blessing and made me who I am today.

This article originally appeared in the Fresno Christian High School’s Internet newspaper, The Feather Online on Nov. 13, 2008. To view the original article, click HERE.