Our Impact

Our Impact

From our burn survivor camp for kids to community-wide fire prevention, we transform lives.

“I now come to the support group to help others – to provide a sense of hope to others – and I find myself a stronger person by participating”

Donna And Randy

Randy’s Story of Strength & Recovery

When a gas explosion consumed his home, Randy sustained significant burn injuries covering 62% of his body. Enduring weeks in a medically-induced coma, staying in the Burn Unit for 97 days, and braving 20 surgeries during that time, he pulled through, yet sustained emotional wounds as well. In his words, “When I was a new survivor, I had a lot of emotional damage and was struggling with how to move forward.”

23 years later, Randy regularly attends our Circle of Friends support group – a place where he finds true purpose: “I now know my purpose in life is to provide support to other survivors, to ensure they are not going through those same struggles alone.”

Help Survivors like Randy
Hear Burn Survivors Tell Their Story

Burn Survivor Series

Derek

Alexis

Randy

Fire and Burn Prevention for Our Community

Through fire and burn prevention, we help protect lives across San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Here’s what we accomplished in 2023:

Protect Kids from Burns
2519
New parents and caregivers received scald-prevention tips and tricks.
Teach Kids Fire Safety
43885
Students (K-6) participated in a fire safety presentation at school.
Save Seniors From Fires
2992
Smoke alarms installed for homeowners age 62 and over.
Help Pre-K Children
940
Children (age 5 and younger) watched a fire-safety puppet show in Imperial County.

Making San Diego & Imperial Counties Safer

I think our students needed to hear that information. I don't think they had been taught this before. They remembered the information because we had a guest firefighter come in the next day and they told him all about stop, drop and roll, back of the hand to the door, and to get out 2 ways."
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Teacher Participant
Fire-Safe Kids
My husband and I did not have any working fire alarms or carbon monoxide detectors. We are grateful for those who made it possible for us to have these important safety features in our home now. The installers were very kind. Thank you for your generous help."
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Program Participant
Fire-Safe Seniors
Many of our students do not have family structures that prepare them for fire safety. For some of them, this is the only information they have gotten."
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Teacher Participant
Fire-Safe Kids

More Burn Survivor Stories

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Alexis
Survivor Stories
Alexis
In August of 2018, Alexis’s life changed. While driving home late one night, she ran into a stalled abandoned vehicle and was immediately hit by another
Serving Our Community With

Burn Survivor Support

23
Beyond the Scars Campers
169
Received Emergency Needs
51
New Support Group Attendees
72
Burn Survivor Retreats

What Our Participants Say

The transition from the hospital, back into society was a hard one for me. The Burn Institute provided the tools to help me thrive.
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Adult Burn Survivor
Because I suffer from severe anxiety, and for me to be able to not even have anxiety about what people are thinking about me, makes camp very special for me."
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Camper
CBTS
With support from the Burn Institute and the love of my family, I learned how to smile again."
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Alex
Burn Survivor

Every contribution makes all the difference.

With your donation, we can prevent fires, reduce the resulting burn injuries, and help all burn survivors thrive. You can be a champion for San Diego and Imperial Counties’ safety and well-being.

Together, we can make a compassionate – and life-saving – impact on our community.

Donate Now