[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1004 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1004

 Expressing support for the designation of February 4 through February 
             10, 2024, as ``National Burn Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2024

    Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                    on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of February 4 through February 
             10, 2024, as ``National Burn Awareness Week''.

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;
Whereas, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
        reported that 276,086 people received medical care for treatment of 
        unintentional burn injuries in 2020, with 3,028 deaths from fire and 
        smoke inhalation;
Whereas, of the 87 hospitals reporting to the American Burn Association 
        registry, 91,875 people were treated in hospitals for burn-related 
        injuries, with 32 percent of those being for scalds;
Whereas, compared to the overall population, children under the age of 5 were 2 
        times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency 
        department;
Whereas young adults from ages 20 to 29 had 1.4 times the risk, and those in the 
        30 through 39 age group had 1.3 times the risk of the general 
        population;
Whereas the primary causes of injury include fire flame, scalds, contact with 
        hot objects, electricity, and chemicals, and most of the injuries occur 
        in the home;
Whereas, today, 96.8 percent of those who suffer burn injuries will survive, 
        but, unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious 
        scarring, lifelong physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties;
Whereas ``National Burn Awareness Week'', an initiative of the American Burn 
        Association, is a coming together of burn, fire, and life safety 
        educators to make the public aware of the frequency, devastation, and 
        causes of burn injury as well as consistent and authoritative measures 
        to prevent these injuries and how to best care for those that are 
        injured;
Whereas the theme for 2024 ``National Burn Awareness Week'' is ``Flammable 
        Liquids'', where a common risk of injury exists from flammable liquids;
Whereas significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved 
        burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, 
        and increased burn survival rates;
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;
Whereas burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the 
        number of people who suffer burns each year;
Whereas Congress required the Consumer Product Safety Commission to put rules 
        into place to protect consumers under the Portable Fuel Container Safety 
        Act of 2020;
Whereas the new mandatory safety standard went into effect in July 2023, making 
        gas cans and other fuel containers safer by requiring flame mitigation 
        devices;
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 there are dedicated firefighters who risk their own lives every day to 
        protect others, as well as burn foundations and other life safety 
        professionals who promote burn injury awareness and prevention: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of a ``National Burn Awareness 
        Week''; and
            (2) calls upon all government agencies; fire, life safety, 
        and health care organizations; communications media; and the 
        people of the Nation to observe ``National Burn Awareness 
        Week'' with the appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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