Burn Prevention Activities
Michele Twomey
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Moving from data to action
• Epidemiological data informs decisions,
directs & focuses preventive strategies
– Person (age/ gender/ race/ SES)
– Place (Home/ school)
– Time
– Type (fluid/ open flame/ chemical)
– Scenario
– Severity
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Recent Literature Review
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117 studies (1974 – 2003)
Epidemiological risk factors
Low- & middle income countries
– Ghana, Bangladesh, Brazil, Peru
1. Pre-existing impairment in child
2. History of a sibling burn
3. Maternal illiteracy & low education
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
4 Es of prevention
1. Educate the community & those
responsible for policy change
2. Engineering: Environmental
modification & product redesign
3. Enforcement & legislation: Regulations
to reduce dangerous behaviour
4. Economics: Monetary incentives to
change & develop safe appliances
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Focus on a blend
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
• Packaging & labelling standards
• Appliance standards
• What about supply chain issues?
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Paraffin Supply Chain
Whose business is it?
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Manufacture
Distribution
Retail
Consumer
Tax payer
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Advocacy for burn survivors
Everyone has the right to an environment that is not
harmful to their health and well-being...”
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Ch2. Section 24
APPROACH GOVERNMENT
• Disability Grants for Burn Survivors
• Regulations on occupational hazards
• Advocacy in the workplace for burn survivors
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
Education & Awareness
• Comprehensive training programme for
volunteers
• Bio-psycho-social model
• working with CAPFSA
• Prevention through safety education
• Working on media messages with the
fire department and emergency services
• Interviews on the radio
• Podcasts on our website
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT
The way ahead
Partnerships
Education
CAPFSA
Engineering
PASASA
Action
ERC(UCT)
Enforcements
GOVERNMENT
DoH
Economics
PHOENIX BURNS
PROJECT