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Show Shrine launches national burn prevention program Every year some two million mil-lion burn injuries occur in the U.S. more than in any other country. Of these two million injuries, in-juries, most occur to children. chil-dren. In fact, burns now claim more pre schoolers lives than cancer or any infectious disease. Because burn injuries are fast becoming a public health problem of staggering pro- portions, the Shrine of North America has launched a 'Stop Burn Injuries' campaign to educate the American public regarding burn prevention. The Shriners, leaders in the field of children's orthopedic ortho-pedic care and burn treatment treat-ment operate a network of 21 hospitals throughout the U.S. 18 orthopedic centers cen-ters and three burn institutes. insti-tutes. Medical care is provided free of charge, regardless of race, religion or relation - ship to a Shriner. Curtis Lancaster, Poten-" tate of the El Kalah Shrine Temple, Salt Lake City, the most common villain is not fire, but hot liquids. It is estimated that two thirds of the serious burns to children chil-dren are caused by scalding scald-ing liquids. Unfortunately, this type of burn can be as devastating as burns from a flame, he said. Tap water is deceivingly dangerous. Most home water wat-er heaters are set at temps from 140 to 150 degrees, producing water hot enough to seriously burn a small child in about three seconds. . Infants can turn on a bathroom bath-room faucet, but often lack the motor skills to escape being burned. A temperature reduction of just 20 degrees in your hot water heater will save at least 10 percent on water wat-er heating costs. Scalds are likely to occur oc-cur in the kitchen when curious curi-ous yougsters grab pot handles that stick out over counters or stoves. Tugging on a dangling electricajcpr, connected to a steaming coffee cof-fee pot, or playing underfoot in the kitchen are other preludes pre-ludes to injury. As part of their public information campaign, Shrine medical experts are now touring U.S. cities and the 181 Shrine Temples in North america are offering free literature. Shrine leaders lead-ers feel the campaign will complement and reinforce the fire safety programs already al-ready . serving the nation's communities. |