Summer Camp for Pediatric Burn Survivors Aids in Emotional Healing

BATON ROUGE, La. – A group of 42 local pediatric burn survivors and a team of volunteers from Baton Rouge General (BRG) and the Baton Rouge Fire Department recently participated in “Camp I’m Still Me” in Scottsville, Texas.

During the week-long summer camp, participants enjoy swimming, fishing, and arts and crafts. The camp is voluntarily staffed by doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, social workers, firefighters, parents of young burn survivors, and adult burn survivors.

“’Camp I’m Still Me’ provides children with burn injuries – including our BRG Burn Center survivors -- an opportunity to interact with other children recovering from burn injuries,” said Dr. Tracee Short, BRG Regional Burn Center Medical Director. “It is rewarding to see their excitement, to be a part of supporting their emotional healing and to aid in rebuilding their self-esteem.”

Brittany Laird, center, an occupational therapist at BRG’s Regional Burn Center, volunteers at Camp I’m Still Me, helping pediatric burn survivors like Day’Asia Benion, left, Makayla Sneathern, top, and Blakely Lowrance, right.

BRG's Regional Burn Center was first established in 1970 and is one of only 68 burn centers in the U.S. verified by the American Burn Association. The rigorous verification process confirms that BRG’s team and facilities are held to the highest quality standards of care management of burns from time of injury through rehabilitation.

Several organizations support the BRG Foundation by raising funds to send local children to the camp without any expense to their families. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Assurance Financial, the Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation and the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Louisiana are a few of the camp’s biggest supporters.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as an affiliate of Tulane University School of Medicine, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at @BRGeneral