Kids & Family
Fire Safety Group Offers Family Day Event for Burn Survivors
Free Family Day Event at Springfield F.D. and Lincoln Museum for Burn Survivors and Their Families
On Saturday, September 8, the nonprofit Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) is hosting its annual Family Day event for burn survivors and family members at Springfield Fire Department and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL. The goal of the event is to create an environment of mutual acceptance, respect, and support, while participating in family-friendly events and activities. The program is provided at no cost to individuals adversely affected by burn injuries along with their immediate family members.
The program, which will be held from 10:30am to 4:00pm, includes educational presentations, lunch cooked by Springfield firefighters, fire station tours, and access to the Lincoln Library and Museum. Participants will also receive t-shirts and goodie bags. Members of the local burn survivor support group, “COMPASS,” will highlight their available assistance, while fire service personnel will discuss fire safety and prevention. Other points of discussion will include information about the IFSA and its burn survivor support services.
“This event allows us to reach out to families with burn survivors and provide them with educational information regarding burns injuries and the effects it may have on themselves and family members,” says Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of the IFSA. “But more importantly, it offers parents and children the opportunity to network by sharing stories, suggestions, and ideas amongst one another and to enjoy various activities in a fun atmosphere.”
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According to Zaleski, the Family Day program fills an important gap in IFSA’s programming; it is the organization’s first outreach program for both burn-injured children and adults. The IFSA also hosts two other free programs for burn-injured individuals, Camp “I Am Me” and a Young Adult Summit. The weeklong burn camp, which recently celebrated its 28th anniversary in June, is open to children eight to 16 years old, while the Young Adult Summit is a weekend retreat for individuals aged 18 to 25.
“We are proud to continue developing valuable support programs, such as Family Day, for burn survivors in Illinois, in addition to offering burn prevention education materials to the general public,” adds Zaleski.
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For more information about the IFSA’s Family Day–Springfield, please visit www.ifsa.org/lincoln.
About the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, a Mount Prospect-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been promoting and disseminating fire safety and burn prevention materials and resources. The IFSA also hosts a variety of support programs for burn survivors including the Young Adult Summit, Family Day, and Camp “I Am Me,” a unique weeklong camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. For more information, visit www.IFSA.org.
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