Delaware Burn Camp is safe haven for young victims

Christopher James can attend Delaware Burn Camp as a counselor-in-training for as long as he wants.

He deserves it. Of all the stories burn camp volunteers tell, his story tugs at the heart most of all. During a fire when Christopher was 5 years old, his bedroom ceiling collapsed on him. Although be survived, he was severely burned and left with brain damage. He was in recovery for several months at Pennsylvania’s Chester-Crozier Medical Center, one of the top burn centers in the region.

“But his parents never came back for him,” said camp coordinator and burn camp board president Joanne Hutchison. He went into foster care where he remains today, 13 years later.

She tells other stories about children who were purposely scalded with hot water as punishment, others who set fires and another story about a young camper who was doused with lighter fluid and set on fire by other boys.

Sometimes the emotional scars run much deeper than the scars from burns.

“All their stories touch your heart,” Hutchison said. “But these kids are resilient, and it amazes me how they bounce back.”

A dozen youngsters took part in the camp Aug. 15 to 20 at Camp Barnes near Bethany Beach. They took a trip to Funland in Rehoboth Beach, took a ride on the Lewes Fire Department boat and went crabbing, fishing and bike riding. They also climbed a rock wall, went swimming, did arts and crafts, archery and horseback riding.

Delaware General Assembly creates camp

In its third year, Delaware Burn Camp was born out of legislation passed by the Delaware General Assembly, although no state money is provided for its operation. Rep. Dan Short, R-Seaford, and Sen. George Bunting, D-Bethany Beach, cosponsored House Bill 44 to create the camp. A board made up of legislators, members of the public, fire officials and health and youth organization representatives are charged with overseeing the camp.

Donations – most from fire departments, ladies auxiliaries and civic clubs – provide funding and in-kind donations to assist the camp. All counselors are volunteers who have a special concern for burn victims – most are nurses and firefighters. There is no charge to the campers, and transportation to and from camp is provided.

The camp is offered for a week each year to burn victims aged 6 to 18 from an area that includes Delaware, Maryland’s Eastern Shore and lower Pennsylvania.

According to the Burned Children Recovery Foundation, more than 250,000 children are burned each year in the United States, and fire and burns are the third leading cause of death for all children under 19 years of age.

According to a 2008 report issued by Delaware Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, fire and burn injuries were the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among the state’s children from 1996 to 2005 and 1979 to 1998. Among 5-to-9 year-olds, fire-related deaths were the leading cause of death. Fortunately the numbers are low with 30 fire-related deaths from 1996 to 2005.

The report notes that fire and burn hospitalizations are low in Delaware because most young fire victims are hospitalized at burn centers in other states. There were only 18 recorded victims under the age of 19 from 2002 to 2005.

Hutchison said she knows more young burn victims are out there who could take advantage of the camp. The board, made up of 13 members, will continue to spread the word about the camp.

Greg Murray, who has volunteered for three years at the camp, has his own reasons for giving back. Murray was severely burned 20 years ago when he hit a high-power line while working on TV cable lines near his California home. He is fortunate to be alive, and he treasures each day. “I have no regrets,” he said.

Murray, an EMT with the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company, jokes and laughs with campers as if they were his own kids.

“We want to keep the kids physically mobile and to feel comfortable around other people. We want them to realize they can do anything,” Hutchison said.

That’s a tall order to accomplish in a week, but Delaware Burn Camp volunteers know they are making a difference.

For more information, go to delawareburncamp.com or phone 302-734-4582.