Internship

Internship Overview

The Burn Institute’s Community Outreach Burn Prevention and Education Internship Program is designed to provide professional development opportunities to students by exposing them to burn prevention education techniques and methodologies, and how to effectively present these materials for vulnerable populations, specifically children and seniors.

Mission & Programs

The Burn Institute’s mission is to reduce burn-related injuries and deaths in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Our approach to achieving our mission is two-fold. First, through our prevention programs, we offer free fire safety presentations for children and free smoke alarm installations for seniors. Second, we offer burn survivor support services that include physical and mental health counseling; and financial support for families whose loved ones are receiving hospital care for burn injuries.

Other Information

Internships are available for Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. To maximize your internship experience, we encourage students to commit to two semesters with the Burn Institute; however, two semesters are not mandatory. Company vehicles are available, but you may be asked to use your personal vehicle at times. Please note this is an unpaid internship.

For questions about the Fire Safe Seniors program please contact [email protected].

For questions about the Fire Safe Kids program please contact [email protected].

Burn Institute interns also have the ability to

  • Participate in workshops to learn about various roles at a nonprofit (marketing/events, burn survivor support, grant writing, resume development)
  • Tour of the UCSD Regional Burn Center burn unit (depending on COVID-19 safety precautions)
  • Interns who stay for two semesters may be able to do a ride along on a fire engine (depending on COVID-19 safety precautions)

Fire Safe Seniors Internship Overview

  • Community outreach to address the lack of smoke alarms in seniors’ homes and the need for fire safety education with the targeted population
  • Interns work first-hand with residents in 30-minute home visits to provide life-saving smoke alarms as well as fire safety and burn prevention education
  • In-office data collection and communication with prospective seniors qualified to receive free smoke alarm service

Fire Safe Kids Internship Overview

  • Educate kids K-6th about fire safety (escape plans, stop/drop/roll, what to do if you spill a hot liquid on yourself) through a 30 minute Fire Safe Kids
  • Outreach to teachers all over San Diego County
  • Administer, collect, and analyze pre and posttest data for the Fire Safe Kids program