The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors have introduced the latest video interview of their six-part campaign series, Faces of Fire/Electrical, which features personal stories of people impacted by electrical incidents, demonstrating the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards at home and in the workplace.
Dr. Victor Joe, MD, FACS, FCCP, is the newest interview in the video campaign. As clinical professor of surgery and medical director of UCI Health Regional Burn Center in California, Dr. Joe is dedicated to the complete physical and emotional healing of patients suffering from burn injuries, including those undergoing care from burns incurred from an electrical incident.
“[Resources like] the Phoenix Society have a tremendous role and benefit for aftercare and the complete recovery of the burn patient,” said Dr. Joe. “By working together, we not only learn about the acute needs of patients; we can identify an important course of action to help them during their recovery and long after they leave the hospital. Through this collaboration, both doctors and organizations like the Phoenix Society can better assist patients and caregivers with resources and the support they need going forward.”
Since its inception, electricity has made day-to-day living easier, but with more and more devices utilizing electricity today, there is more potential for electrical injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average there have been more than 2,000 non-fatal electrical injuries at work each year. In homes, fires started from electrical distribution or lighting equipment caused 470 deaths, 1,100 injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage annually from 2014 – 2018.
“While many electrical injuries prove fatal, those that are not can be particularly debilitating, oftentimes involving complicated recoveries that have a lasting emotional and physical impact on an individual,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “We must remain vigilant around electrical safety if we want to reduce loss, and we can start by better educating people about the true dangers of electricity. Through campaigns such as Faces of Fire/Electrical and the sharing of resources, tools, and safety tips with homeowners and workplace professionals, we can help prevent electrical-related tragedies from happening.”
Overall, Faces of Fire/Electrical features personal stories of electrical burn survivors whose lives have been forever altered and how more understanding, training, and a change in work culture could have significantly impacted these outcomes. Through video interviews, written profiles, and related information, Faces of Fire/Electrical is a resource for electrical and non-electrical workers, and the general public to learn more about the importance of electrical safety. The Faces of Fire/Electrical campaign ultimately works to help build a safer world by teaching others and supporting the burn survivor community in advancing lifelong healing, optimal recovery, and burn and injury prevention.
Dr. Joe is currently a member of the Board of Directors at the Phoenix Society. His work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals and he is a frequent guest speaker at regional, national, and international meetings and symposia. Visit www.nfpa.org/facesoffire to watch the videos. Free resources are now available to download and share, and additional information about the Faces of Fire/Electrical campaign can be found on NFPA’s website.
