Programs
and Lectures, Suggestions and Ideas
Some
programs and lectures educate and motivate. Some seek
donations (time, money, materials). And others accomplish
both. It is your story of survival. Depending on the audience,
your story may focus on hospital stay and recovery, dealing
with the public, or fund raising. You may approach serious
subjects such as public misunderstanding, dating and sex,
or looks. Be honest. It’s your version. It’s
your way of surviving. There are many areas, in and out
of the hospital, where a burn survivor can be of value.
Adolescent
and teen education (elementary schools, scouts, and
other youth groups and clubs)
Most of these lectures are focused on prevention and education.
Talk about acceptance, differences, and what makes you
a burn survivor. Demonstrate stop, drop, and roll and
speak on issues of safety (don’t play with matches,
etc). Movement and participation will increase the attention
span of a very young audience. Children say what’s
on their minds and some may want to touch your skin.
School re-entry (individual, class, auditorium and
faculty)
Programs that focus on the total reintegration of
the young burn survivor from the hospital to normal life
through education. Presentations vary according to age.
One example is the Heart and Soul
Program which is used widely in North Carolina. Variations
of this type of program are used throughout the US and
elsewhere.
University and professional education (medical and
non-medical)
Most of these lectures or panel discussions address the
burn survivor perspective on a specific area of study
or interest. Medical education consists of students or
trainees (occupational and physical therapy, nurses, med
students, etc.). It may also include those outside medicine
who have knowledge of burn care that exceeds that of the
general population (corporations and organizations with
burn interests, firefighters, other survivors, etc.).
Non-medical education consists of university students
(psychology, sociology, ethics, law, sorority and fraternity,
etc.) and members of the general population. All offer
a chance to present a unique angle on subject matter,
gain exposure, raise funds, etc.
Patient
visits
Sharing your story. Patient visits give burn survivors
a glimpse into the future (what a certain procedure or
graph looks like, how others cope and adapt, etc.). Sometimes
just being there is enough. Family may want to hear your
story or seek advice (be careful not to give medical and
legal, leave that to doctors and lawyers).
Burn
Camps
Our list is growing. Almost every state has a burn camp;
some have more than one. Many countries outside the US
also have burn camps. Excellent opportunity to work with
and influence young burn survivors.
Support
(survivor reunions, support groups, online chats,
etc.)
Burn survivors gather to share stories, information, and
ideas on dealing with being burned, etc. Our links are
growing.
Conferences
(American Burn Association, Burn Camp Conference,
World Burn Congress, Burn Survivors Online, etc.)
Networking opportunity
Meet and greet burn survivors, burn care professionals,
firefighters, corporate exhibitors, etc. Worldwide representation.
