Are we making an impact? A review of a burn prevention program in Israeli schools

Abstract

In an attempt to challenge the immense toll of burn and scald injuries among children in Israel, a structured educational program was developed by our university center for plastic surgery in Beer-Sheva. Since 1986, more than 250,000 children and 10,000 teachers, in more than 460 elementary schools nationwide, have been exposed to our program. This article reviews the design of the program, the implementation procedures, and the studies evaluating its effectiveness. The studies revealed significant improvements in children's risk-related knowledge and injury-control beliefs. Both teachers and principals assessed the program as important, and the in-training workshops and intervention activities won high approval. An overall trend of reduction in the number of patients hospitalized with burn injuries in the southern part of Israel was found also. Although it is clear that the project is instructive, further comprehensive efforts are needed to make a dramatic nationwide impact. Some of the efforts already underway target the most vulnerable group of the non-Jewish population in Israel.