The UCSD Regional Burn Center is involved in several areas of outreach. Our programs are designed to provide an understanding of burn prevention, care, and treatment. We also offer a support system for adult and pediatric burn survivors, their families and friends. Many of the volunteers for our outreach programs are either burn center staff or burn survivors from the local community. We also receive a great deal of support from our local firefighters.
Baby Be Safe Program
In the U.S., 4 million babies are born every year and fire related causes will kill approximately 800 infants and injure an additional 7,000 before their 5th birthday. Sadly, 75 to 80% of burn injuries occur in and around the home.
The UCSD Regional Burn Center has developed the Baby-Be-Safe program in order to reduce the number of burn injuries to children under the age of four by educating their parents. The Baby-Be-Safe program is now part of the traditional new parent tour for couples who deliver their babies at UCSD Medical Center. A nurse from the Burn Center presents a 20-minute talk about keeping babies safe from burns. Parents also receive a newborn packet that includes a smoke detector, hot water thermometer, refrigerator safety magnet, electrical outlet plugs and fire safety literature. The Baby-Be-Safe program was funded by the Friends of UCSD Healthcare.
For more information about the Baby Be Safe Program please call (619) 543-7403.
Brave Heart Kids Program
The Brave Heart Kids Program is a peer support program sponsored by the UCSD Regional Burn Center for child and teenage burn survivors and their families. The mission of our program is to:
- Provide safe, fun, and educational activities
- Promote self esteem
- Allow kids to network with each other to give support
- Provide interaction with positive role models from the local adult burn
survivor community
For more information about the Brave Heart Kids please call (619) 294-6042 or 294-3754.
Burn Survivor Support Group
The UCSD Regional Burn Center Support Group, established in 1986, is comprised of former burn patients, their families, and members of the burn care team at UCSD Medical Center. Sponsored by UCSD Medical Center, the group was started by the UCSD Regional Burn Center for survivors and family members who felt they could assist other burn survivors and their loved ones during and after hospitalization. We are here to:
- Share practical solutions to post injury problem
- Provide emotional support and understanding
- Exchange helpful information
- Reduce feelings of anxiety related to the recovery process
- Help ease the transition from hospital to home
- Offer education on topics related to burn injuries
The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 pm in the UCSD Medical Center cafeteria, small dining room #1.
For more information regarding the Burn Survivor Support Group please call (619) 543-2328.
Peer Support Training
The UCSD Burn Center Peer Support Program is based on the premise that people seek support from those who have similar experiences, expectations, or values. Peer supporters:
- Are burn survivors or family members
- Care about others
- Offer empathic listening
- Identify needed assistance
- Offer trust & comfort
- Promote coping
- Volunteer their time to help others receive counselor training
School Re-Entry Program
The School Re-entry program was established to assist children/adolescents who have sustained a burn injury to return to school. The program intends to educate the child's/adolescents peers and school staff as to what a burn injury is. The School Re-entry program provides written material for the child's/adolescents teacher and class as well as a classroom visit by Burn Unit Staff. Our goals are:
- To encourage accepting and helpful behavior toward the burned child
- To provide the child's school aquaintances the opportunity to express concerns and feelings about the child's accident/injury, hospital experiences, their changed appearance and future
- To provide the school personnel and classmates with the necessary information to develop a basic understanding of burn care and treatment
- To provide the school personnel and classmates with the necessary information about adaptive devices such as splints, and pressure garments
- To provide school personnel with information on fire prevention & education
To learn more about the School Re-Entry Program, please call (619) 543-7403.