In recognition of February's burn awareness month, South Carolina firefighters who participate in the state's Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC) program are getting the word out that burns can and do happen, anytime to anyone.

“Most people don't think about the everyday things we do that can result in burn injuries,” said Mary Wiltshire, ACBC director.

Wiltshire explained that common causes of childhood burns often are not associated with home fires. Hot cooking liquids and too-hot bath water are a leading cause of burns to younger children according to MUSC Children's Hospital Pediatric Burn Team. Preteens and teenagers put themselves in danger by playing with flammables and fires. Many burns are a result of teens adding explosive objects to a burning fire or using flammable liquids inappropriately.

“Between November 1997, and October 1998, more than 50 children were admitted to MUSC Children's Hospital with burn injuries. Additional children were seen as outpatients. Of those children admitted, more than half were male and most were 4 years old or younger,” said Jill Evans, pediatric burn coordinator, MUSC Children's Hospital.

To address the need of the young age group, ACBC launched a fire safety and burn prevention program focusing specifically on preschoolers.

While preschool-aged children are at the highest risk of injury and death in fires, they also act unpredictably which puts them at a higher risk for accidents.

“The Sesame Street Fire Safety Station program uses characters that the kids know and love to teach the lifesaving lessons in a fun, interactive way,” said Aaron Small, Richland County fire educator, who helped launched the program in Richland County. The program is already getting rave reviews by children and their preschool teachers according to Small. “We're already getting requests from inside and outside Richland county to hold another training session.”

Firefighters recycle aluminum cans year-round to pay for burn prevention and fire safety education, individual burned children's needs, recovery and therapy equipment, and ACBC's Camp Can Do summer camp.

Aluminum can donations are accepted at fire stations for ACBC. Individuals, businesses, and civic groups can collect cans and drop them in ACBC can wagons and boxes. For more information, call 792-9579.