Financial Review

Kindergarten Students Learn Fire and Burn Safety

Flambeau Hospital Emergency Department and the North Central Regional Trauma Advisory Council (NCRTAC) have made it their mission to educate Price County kindergarten students and families on fire and burn safety.

Each year, thousands of children are burned by contact with fire, hot objects, and hot substances. Throughout March, Flambeau Hospital emergency department staff will be going to the schools speaking with the students about safety, and reading them the story about “Brecker Bunny.” This story is about an adventurous bunny that forgets the safety rules and gets a bad burn. The book goes on to follow his journey to safety. Besides a fun activity, children will bring home a safety checklist to evaluate their home for fire and burn safety. This book was written by Hilary Bilbres. Her 18-month-old son was severely burned in a hot tub.

NCRTAC includes nine north central counties, including Price County. Dorothy Weigel, emergency department coordinator, represents Flambeau Hospital on this council. Each year the trauma committee educates its communities on a different topic. “Even if we help one child by educating them on safety, we have been successful,” said Weigel. Because the program has been so successful in the community, the emergency department has been asked to speak again to children. New this year for NCRTC education is an Alcohol Awareness booth to be displayed with information at different events throughout the county.

For more information on “Brecker Bunny” and safety, please contact Dorothy Weigel at Flambeau Hospital, at 715.762.7489.