February 3-9, 2008 is Burn Awareness Week, and the Newnan Fire Department has joined in the efforts with Shriners Hospitals for Children in using this week to kick-off a year-long campaign designed to help prevent gasoline burn injuries. Kids ages 13 and older are in the highest at risk group for gasoline and other flammable substances.

This year’s theme to the campaign is “Gasoline has only one use: to fuel an engine. Any other use is misuse.”

“We want to let the public know about the misuses of gasoline; especially our youth. The result could end up being fatal or a 3rd degree burn to the face and or body. This is a public awareness campaign and when someone in the community approached me about joining I did not hesitate. This is what the Newnan Fire Department is here for,” said Newnan Fire Chief Whitley.

Here are a few tips of what not to do with gasoline. Do not use near a barbecue grill or to start a fire. Do not siphon gasoline. Do not store in an unapproved container or in a house or vehicle. Do not store gasoline near a source of heat or sparks, such as a hot water heater, furnace, clothes dryer or any other appliance that uses a pilot light.

Most gasoline injuries are avoidable through proper use and storage of gasoline. The Newnan Fire Department will have coloring books, stickers and other educational material pertaining to Burn Awareness. For more information please contact the Newnan Fire Department at 770-253-1851 or log onto www.shrinershq.org.

The Shriners Hospitals for Children specializing in burns have treated more than 800 children since 2002 for acute burn injuries resulting from ignition of highly flammable materials such as gasoline. For more info please or log onto www.shrinershq.org.

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