According to an independent survey commissioned by Shriners Hospitals for Children®, many Americans do not follow key fire and burn safety tips during the holiday season, which can be the most dangerous time of year. That is why Shriners Hospitals for Children is once again joining forces with Blaze Pizza® for their Be Burn Aware campaign to keep families safe from fires and burn injuries this holiday season.
From November 30 through December 16, customers who donate to Shriners Hospitals for Children at the South Florida Blaze Pizza restaurants will receive a free dessert on their next visit. “We’re proud to partner with Shriners Hospitals for Children, which does so much to improve the lives of young burn patients and their families,” said Blaze Pizza’s Adam Cummis.
Visit participating Blaze Pizza locations in South Florida throughout December to learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children and how you can Be Burn Aware.
South Florida locations
- 6334 North Andrews Avenue – Ft. Lauderdale
- 2153 South University Drive – Davie
- 2146 North Federal Highway – Boca Raton
- 250 South State Road 7 – Royal Palm Beach
- 4665 PGA Boulevard – Palm Beach Gardens
The national survey, conducted as part of the Shriners Hospitals for Children annual Be Burn Aware campaign, polled adults across the nation on their fire safety knowledge and practices. Although overall awareness was high, the survey revealed several gaps in action. The largest gap was associated with live Christmas trees, one of the most dangerous fire hazards in homes during this time of year. More than half of those surveyed said they do not water trees daily, even though nearly three-quarters of respondents were aware of the life-saving practice.*
The survey results also show:
· 70 percent are aware that live Christmas trees should be watered daily, but only 45 percent actually do.
· 25 percent leave lit candles unattended in their homes.
· 27 percent leave lit candles within the reach of children.
· 47 percent do not keep a lid or cookie sheet nearby when cooking to extinguish a fire.
· 25 percent do not turn pot handles to the back of the stove and out of children’s reach.
“Some of these findings seem alarming but each year our burn hospitals see the results – children who’ve been injured in cooking related accidents or in fires associated with decorations or candles,” said Kenneth Guidera, M.D., chief medical officer at Shriners Hospitals for Children. “These injuries can mean years of ongoing treatments to a child’s growing skin and extensive rehabilitation.”
As the experts in pediatric burn treatment, Shriners Hospitals for Children’s staff provides critical, surgical and rehabilitative burn care to children, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Visit beburnaware.org for additional tips to prevent burn injuries, activity books for children and educational materials for the entire family.
* Study by Shriners Hospitals for Children, August 2016.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our 22 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. Learn more at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
About Blaze Pizza
Blaze Pizza® launched in South Florida in 2014. Blaze Pizza is being developed in the South Florida area by Levy Family Partners under a 10-unit franchise development agreement. Levy Family Partners was established by entrepreneur Larry Levy, founder of Levy Restaurants, as the holding company for his family’s investments in restaurants, hotels, real estate and other ventures.
The first Blaze Pizza® restaurant opened on Aug. 6, 2012, in Irvine, Calif., and quickly gained attention for its chef-driven recipes, thoughtful interior design, and a service culture that celebrates individuality. Now ranked as the overall #2 fast-casual brand in FastCasual.com’s annual Top 100 list, Blaze Pizza is building momentum and developing a cult-like following as it expands across the country. The company currently operates 91 restaurants in 22 states and Canada, including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Dallas and Washington D.C. Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel (co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels), the concept is backed by investors including LeBron James, Maria Shriver, Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner and movie producer John Davis. For more information, please visit blazepizza.com and facebook.com/blazepizza.
