Burn Prevention Network

As temperatures continue to soar, contact burns from hot asphalt and pavement are a real danger. Please share with family and friends and spread awareness!

Burns From Scorching-Hot Sidewalks and Roads Are Rising, and Can Be Fatal The risk of serious contact burns is increasing as temperatures soar and as more people move to the desert Southwest.

Thanks to ASR Media and our handsome young actor for filming in Scranton today to educate NEPA mothers about how to keep their preschoolers safe from burns and fires!

How to Choose a Sunscreen 🌞

Broad-Spectrum Protection- Make sure your sunscreen label says "broad-spectrum," which means it protects against both UVB and UVA rays.

SPF Rating- Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, up to SPF 50. For most people, SPF 15 or 30 is sufficient. Research on whether SPF above 50 offers extra protection is ongoing.

Sensitive Areas - For sensitive spots like the nose, cheeks, ears, and shoulders, opt for sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These may leave a visible layer on the skin, and some come in fun colors for kids!

How to Apply Sunscreen 🌞

Coverage- Apply enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and behind the knees. Rub it in thoroughly.

Timing- Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside to allow it to absorb properly.

Reapplication -Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, and after swimming, sweating, or towel drying. Most people use too little, so be generous!

Sunscreen for Babies 🌞

Under 6 Months - Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, like the face, if protective clothing and shade are not available.

Over 6 Months- Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas, avoiding the eyes. If your baby gets sunscreen in their eyes, clean them with a damp cloth. If irritation occurs, switch to a different brand or one with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Consult a doctor if a rash develops.

Stay safe and enjoy the sun responsibly! 🌞🧴

During heatwaves, when the sun beats down on playground equipment, we need to be especially careful with our little ones.

Equipment (not just metal but plastic and rubber too) can reach upwards of 145 degrees and can cause burns in just a few seconds. Young children are especially susceptible because their skin is thinner than an adult's, and their instinct to let go of something hot is not yet fully developed.

Use the back of your hand to test the equipment before letting your little ones play!

**Congratulations to our Heroes!**

A big shoutout to Matt Evans, who was a first-year Camp Susquehanna volunteer counselor in 2024, along with Eric Howell, Zach Leitzell, and Christiana Stauffer. They were recognized for their heroic efforts in saving a patient who was electrocuted.

Well done, and thank you for the incredible work you do!

Matthew Evans

EMTs recognized for electrocution rescue LEWISTOWN — Eric Howell certainly didn’t become a paramedic with Fame Emergency Medical Services, for fame or notoriety. The veteran first responder doesn’t believe in collecting trophies or awards in his line of work. The only reward that Howell, the deputy chief of Fame EMS, thinks about is ...

Thanks to Pennboc for being a generous donor for Camp Susquehanna! We were fortunate enough to join Pennboc Region 2 for the Firestop Training by Hilti and an Iron Pigs game! Thanks all
for your support!

It takes a village!! There are literally hundreds of people each year involved in making Camp Susquehanna happen. Another special shoutout to Lower Macungie Fire Department and Target store T2399 for donating and cooking lunch for our Philadelphia and Allentown campers on the way to camp again this year! Thank you also to all of our chaperones, spending long days on the buses to make sure everyone arrives safely!

If you are lighting fireworks this coming holiday, be sure to wear pure cotton, linen, silk or other natural fibres and avoid acrylic clothing. Once acrylic catches fire, it burns vigorously. Acrylic clothes melt and drip on your skin. This means that if acrylic clothing catches fire, it may cause deep burns.

Thank you to Allegheny County Police and Fire Academy and UPMC for inviting us to their press conference to give the public information they need to keep themselves and others safe this summer!

**🚫 Alcohol and Fireworks Don't Mix! 🚫**

Enjoy your celebrations responsibly. Remember, alcohol and fireworks are a dangerous combination. Stay safe and keep the fun accident-free!

**⚠️ Safety Reminder: Sparklers**

Sparklers may seem safe since they are sold almost anywhere during the summer, including grocery stores. But did you know they burn at more than 1200 degrees Fahrenheit? They can cause serious burns if not handled appropriately.

Please do not allow young children to handle sparklers!

Instead, use glow sticks as a fun and safe alternative.🌟✨

Stay safe and enjoy your summer! ☀️🌻

The sun has set on yet another AMAZING year at Camp Susquehanna. A HUGE shoutout to all of our volunteers, donors, campers, families, and everyone who made this year the best year yet! (Even mother nature cooperated!!)

Stay tuned as our three incredible photographers are making their way through literal thousands of photos and video, and in the meantime, here are some from our Family Wall app to give you a healthy dose of Camp Smiles! Lehigh Valley Health Network UPMC St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

We are grateful for our partnership with William Cameron Engine Company in Lewisburg, PA. Each year, they provide a lunch stop for the Camp Susquehanna campers coming on the Pittsburgh bus. Thank you for all you do for our campers!

On Saturday, June 15, we again had the privilege to host lunch for some special guests. A bus travelling from the Pittsburgh area annually stops here to pick-up central Pennsylvania kids before continuing several more hours to Camp Susquehanna, an event for child and youth burn survivors hosted by the Burn Prevention Network in NE Pennsylvania.
These are good kids, injured in events close to the heart for any firefighter. As always, we were honored to provide a rest stop for this group and we wish them a great camp experience.

The K-9 Crew has arrived at Camp Susquehanna!! Rebecca and Prime are back, and Eleanor & Bear and Karen & Roo joined us all the way from ALASKA!! 🐾❤️

These special dogs and their handlers are at Camp Susquehanna as part of our partnership with NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines, an organization that provides trained canine teams to respond to crisis, trauma, and disasters across the United States. The dogs are trained to alert when a camper is having a trauma response so our psychosocial team and counselors can respond.

🤗 THANK YOU Greenawalds Fire/Rescue 11! 🤗 Greenawalds volunteers loaded final supplies for Camp Susquehanna and we are unloading them now and getting ready for the campers!

🤗 Many thanks to these AMAZING volunteers 🤗 Last night, they loaded a truck with all the camp supplies needed for Camp Susquehanna 2024! Three days until the campers arrive! 🏕️

Inspirational story for your weekend of a young man treated by BPN board member, Dr. Ariel Aballay, Medical Director at West Penn Burn Unit of Allegheny Health Network

Canon-McMillan senior badly burned in house fire defies odds, walks at graduation © 2024 Cox Media Group. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.

✋We need your help!✋
BPN is seeking volunteers to help with these projects:

Camp Susquehanna Volunteer: Pre-Camp Pack/Loading and Pre-Camp Unload/Setup. We are in need of strong people for loading and unloading supplies for Camp Susquehanna 2024. The loading team will fill a truck with camp supplies at the LVHN Mack Building in Allentown on Tuesday, June 11th at 6:00 pm. The unloading crew will be at the campground in Poyntelle (Wayne County) on June 13th, between 1:00 and 6:00 pm. Tasks will include unloading the truck, setting up cabins, organizing and labeling supplies, and preparing camper backpacks. Dinner will be provided for the unloading team.

Fundraising Volunteer: Basket Raffle Organizers. We are also looking for Basket Raffle Organizers for the Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage event this year. Responsibilities involve reaching out to companies for basket donations, crafting and decorating baskets, and overseeing the raffle between 5-7 pm on Monday, October 14th during the event.

If interested, contact us!

Thanks, Chief Jeff Tomovcsik and Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association!

Camp Susquehanna has traditionally been funded by generous donations from individuals and fundraisers. In recent years, inflation caused the cost of camp per child to increase, and we began to experience shortfalls in funding. This jeopardized our ability to provide camp to families at no cost. BPN launched an effort to secure corporate and foundation partners to help support Camp Susquehanna.

We are grateful to Integra Foundation and Kerecis for joining us as the first corporate/foundation partners to support Camp Susquehanna! With their sponsorships this year, they will receive logo placement on the back of our shirts featuring this year's "Power" theme. Our campers are grateful!

🌟 Last Chance to Help Our Campers Have the Best Year Ever! 🌟
We need your support to make this year's camp unforgettable for our kids! There's only one day left to make a donation from our Amazon wishlist. The deadline is tomorrow, Friday, May 31st, to ensure everything arrives on time.
Camp is only two weeks away, and your contribution will make a huge difference. Let's come together and give our campers the best experience ever!
🛒 https://a.co/0J1jchn
Thank you for your generosity and support! 💖
Please share far and wide!

Yesterday evening, we were honored to attend the Allentown School District’s Multidisciplinary Project Expo where kids from Jefferson Elementary shared what they learned from our Flick Fire & Burn Safety class! Thank you, Anne David and all the other participating teachers!

SAVE THE DATE!

Battalion Chief John Salka (ret.) will be speaking at this year’s Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage Awards! Salka is a 40 plus year veteran of the Fire Service. He served FDNY for over 33 years, the last 15 years as battalion chief in the 18th battalion in the Bronx.

Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage 2024
Date: Monday, October 14th, 2024
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Billera Hall, DeSales University
2755 Station Ave
Center Valley, PA 18034

So well deserved! Congrats to Karla Klas, 2024 recipient of the Dr. Anne Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education!

Karla Klas - 2024 Recipient of the Dr. Anne Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education Congratulations to Karla Klas, the recipient of the CFSI/IFSTA Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education. She was honored with this...

Thanks to everyone who stopped by BPN’s booth at Lancaster County Firemen's Association Annual FIRE EXPO and BPN Board and friends who helped spread the word of our critical work!

Looking for a super easy and incredibly fun way to support Camp Susquehanna? 🏕️✨ We've got you covered! 🎉

Check out our Amazon Wishlist https://a.co/0J1jchn packed with all the essentials and goodies that will make this summer at camp an unforgettable experience for our amazing campers! 🛍️🌈

And here's the best part - sharing is caring! 💖 Spread the word by sharing the link with everyone you know! Let's come together and make a positive impact in the lives of our campers. Every little bit counts! 🌟

Thank you for your incredible support! 🙌 Let's make this summer at Camp Susquehanna the best one yet! ☀️🏞️

Come see us at the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Annual FIRE EXPO on May 17 & 18, 2024. BPN will be in the spine, booth #8. Hope to see you there!

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jennifer Nagle as we mark the one-year anniversary of her passing.

Jenn was one of our greatest advocates, supporters, and friends, and we feel her absence in our community every day. As Camp Susquehanna 2024 approaches, one of her greatest passions, we strive to make her proud.