National Burn Awareness Week focuses on electrical safety

“Electrical Safety from Amps to Zap (A to Z)!” is the theme for this year’s National Burn Awareness Week from the American Burn Association.  Every year in the U.S., approximately 400,000 people receive medical treatment for burn injuries; in 2019, U.S. Emergency Departments treated over 3000 electrical burns alone. 

Fires and burns are more than just incidents. Every electrical burn injury has an impact and a story behind it. NFPA's Faces of Fire, in collaboration with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, is a campaign that features stories of people impacted by electrical incidents and demonstrates the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards both at work and at home.

Use these tips to promote Burn Awareness Week in your community:

• Use electrical safety themed social media assets provided by NFPA, American Burn Association, and US Fire Administration to send out messages related to electrical burn risks and safety precautions
• Use the #NBAW in your posts to align with other Burn Awareness Week posts
• Work with your local retailers to disseminate information such as NFPA's Electrical Safety Checklist
• Visit NFPA's Electrical Safety Page for videos and tip sheets that you can use year round
• Working smoke alarms, in every bedroom, level and outside every sleeping area and Carbon monoxide alarms, on every level are a must for all homes.
• Make sure everyone in your home (including guests) are part of your Home Fire Escape Plan including knowing 2 ways out and the outside meeting place.

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