HR0028 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0028 LRB103 26780 ECR 53143 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our nation; tragically, children, the elderly, and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 276,086 people received medical care for treatment of unintentional burn injuries in 2020 with 3,028 deaths resulting from fire and smoke inhalation; according to information gathered from the American Burn Association registry from 87 different hospitals, 91,875 people were treated in hospitals for burn-related injuries with 32% of those being for scalds; and

WHEREAS, Compared to the overall population, children under five were two times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency department; young adults from the ages of 20 to 29 had 1.4 times the risk, and those in the 30-39 age group had 1.3 times the risk of the general population; and

WHEREAS, The primary causes of burn injury include fire-flame, scalds, and coming into contact with hot objects, electricity, and chemicals; most of the injuries occur in the home; today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will survive; unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, lifelong physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties; and

WHEREAS, National Burn Awareness Week, an initiative of the American Burn Association, is a coming together of burn, fire, and life safety educators to make the public aware of the frequency, devastation, and causes of burn injury as well as the consistent and authoritative measures to prevent these injuries and how to best care for those that are injured; and

WHEREAS, The theme for 2023 National Burn Awareness Week is "Scalds: Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire" due to a common risk of burn injury existing from hot liquids, steam, and hot bath water; and

WHEREAS, Significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates; aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn survivors into our communities; furthermore, burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer burns each year; and

WHEREAS, Many people devote their lives and careers to treating, caring for, and supporting rehabilitating burn injury survivors, including those performing vital work in burn research and development, the dedicated firefighters who risk their own lives every day to protect others, burn foundations, and other life safety professionals who promote burn injury awareness and prevention; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare February 5 through February 11, 2023 as Burn Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all government agencies, fire, life safety, and health care organizations, communications media, and the people of Illinois to observe this week with the appropriate ceremonies and activities.