Senate Resolution No. 344

BY: Senator LAVALLE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is proud to proclaim
February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observation of National Burn Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, Developed as an initiative of the American Burn
Association, National Burn Awareness Week serves as a vehicle to promote
burn awareness and prevention among the general public, as well as
high-risk groups, like children and older adults; and

WHEREAS, Burn Awareness Week is designed to provide an opportunity
for burn, fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common
burn awareness and prevention message in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of
accidental death and injury in our Nation where tragically, children,
the elderly and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries,
and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the
age of 15; and

WHEREAS, Annually, in the United States, approximately 486,000
people receive medical care for treatment of burn injuries; in 2016
alone, there were 3,280 deaths from fire and smoke inhalation and
another 40,000 people were treated in hospitals for burn related
injuries; and

WHEREAS, Children under the age of five are 2.4 times more likely
than the general population to suffer burn injuries requiring emergency
medical treatment, and young adults ages 20-29 have a probability of
burn injury which is roughly 1.5 times the risk of the general
population; and

WHEREAS, The primary causes of these injuries include fire-flame,
scalds, electrical and chemicals, with most injuries occurring in the
home; and

WHEREAS, Today, 96.8% of those who suffer burn injuries will
survive; unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious
scarring, life-long physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties;
and

WHEREAS, Significant research and medical advances have dramatically
improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened
hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates; and

WHEREAS, Aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of
burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn
survivors into our communities; furthermore, burn safety education and
prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer
burns each year; and

WHEREAS, Many people devote their lives and careers to treating,
caring for, supporting and rehabilitating burn injury survivors,
including those performing vital work in burn research and development;
and

WHEREAS, Countless dedicated firefighters risk their own lives every
day to protect others, and burn foundations and other life safety
professionals steadfastly promote burn injury awareness and prevention;
and

WHEREAS, By memorializing this week, it will remind children how to
be responsible for their personal safety, and increase family awareness
of potentially harmful situations; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this important issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, state and national levels to reduce the incidence of burn-related
injuries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proclaim February 3-9, 2019, as Burn Awareness Week in the State of New
York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.