International Burn Prevention Day

Established by the Latin American Burn Federation, this date pays tribute to the Fortunato Benaim Burn Foundation, created in Buenos Aires on October 26, 1981. Prevention is the best way to protect people from burn injuries, half of whose victims are minors. Countries that have undertaken and sustained preventive campaigns over the years have obtained results in reducing the number of burns and, especially, their magnitude. The commemoration of this day aims to disseminate the measures that should be taken to avoid these serious accidents and to alert especially those who are most exposed to them, as well as, in case they occur, what should be done in each circumstance.

A burn is an accidental injury, fundamentally of the skin and subepidermal tissues, which can be produced by heat, chemical substances or electricity.

There are different levels of burns according to the condition of the skin. They range from superficial burns to those involving a muscle, bone, tendon and/or ligament. These burns are often life-threatening and may require amputation.

The purpose of this celebration is to disseminate measures to avoid these serious accidents and to alert especially those who are most exposed to them, as well as, in case they occur, to instruct about the measures to be implemented.