IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1004 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2024 Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of February 4 through February 10, 2024, as National Burn Awareness Week .

Whereas burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our Nation where, tragically, children, the elderly, and the disabled are especially vulnerable to burn injuries, and almost one-third of all burn injuries occur in children under the age of 15; Whereas, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 276,086 people received medical care for treatment of unintentional burn injuries in 2020, with 3,028 deaths from fire and smoke inhalation; Whereas, of the 87 hospitals reporting to the American Burn Association registry, 91,875 people were treated in hospitals for burn-related injuries, with 32 percent of those being for scalds; Whereas, compared to the overall population, children under the age of 5 were 2 times as likely to be seen for burn injuries at a hospital emergency department; Whereas young adults from ages 20 to 29 had 1.4 times the risk, and those in the 30 through 39 age group had 1.3 times the risk of the general population; Whereas the primary causes of injury include fire flame, scalds, contact with hot objects, electricity, and chemicals, and most of the injuries occur in the home; Whereas, today, 96.8 percent of those who suffer burn injuries will survive, but, unfortunately, many of those survivors will sustain serious scarring, lifelong physical disabilities, and adjustment difficulties; Whereas National Burn Awareness Week , an initiative of the American Burn Association, is a coming together of burn, fire, and life safety educators to make the public aware of the frequency, devastation, and causes of burn injury as well as consistent and authoritative measures to prevent these injuries and how to best care for those that are injured; Whereas the theme for 2024 National Burn Awareness Week is Flammable Liquids , where a common risk of injury exists from flammable liquids; Whereas significant research and medical advances have dramatically improved burn care and treatment, aided rehabilitation, shortened hospital stays, and increased burn survival rates; Whereas aftercare support for the physical and emotional effects of burns has also played a key role in the successful reintegration of burn survivors into our communities; Whereas burn safety education and prevention efforts continue to reduce the number of people who suffer burns each year; Whereas Congress required the Consumer Product Safety Commission to put rules into place to protect consumers under the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020; Whereas the new mandatory safety standard went into effect in July 2023, making gas cans and other fuel containers safer by requiring flame mitigation devices; Whereas many people devote their lives and careers to treating, caring for, supporting, and rehabilitating burn injury survivors, including those performing vital work in burn research and development; and Whereas there are dedicated firefighters who risk their own lives every day to protect others, as well as burn foundations and other life safety professionals who promote burn injury awareness and prevention: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of a National Burn Awareness Week ; and (2) calls upon all government agencies; fire, life safety, and health care organizations; communications media; and the people of the Nation to observe National Burn Awareness Week with the appropriate ceremonies and activities.