Firemen Push Burn Treatment Agency

Ann Arbor firefighters will be spearheading a drive next month to obtain national support for a new foundation which will specialize in the treatment of burn victims. l The formation of the Institute for Burn Medicine was announced last December by I Dr. Irving Feller, head of the Burn Unit at University Hospital. Dr. Feller pointed out I at the time that care of the I burn patiënt has progressed in only a few places around I the country. Among the goals of the InI stitute for Burn Medicine are I training medical people in I treatment of burn victims, establishing and enlarging burn I treatment facilities in hospitals throughout the nation, a I program of prevention of I burn accidents and research I i n t o better equipment and techniques for burn treatment. Headquarters for the Institute is currently at 200 N. Ingalls St. The Ann Arbor Firefighters I Association, Local 1733, repreI senting firemen employedby the city, have taken on the task of presenting the Institute's program to its state association when that body meets in Kalamazoo June 8, 9 and 10. Wesley Prater, president of Local 1733, and David Crabtree, chairman of the Institute committee, have drawn up a resolution supporting efforts of the Institute and putting the Michigan State Firefighters Association on record as willing to take an active role in its activities. The resolution also recomm e n d s that the Michigan State Firefighters Association actively seek the endorsement of the program from the I International Association of Firefighters at the national convention in Los Angeles, Calif. in August. William H. McClennan, president of the international, told members of Local 1733 when he met with them in Washington, D.C. earlier this month that the Institute is a "natural" for the national ganization to support. "We feel very strongly about this program and what it can do throughout the country," Prater said. "We're particularly proud that it started in Ann Arbor through. a local physician who realizes the need in burn treatment." Prater pointed out that the Federated Fire fighters of California in 1958 successfully launched a national drive to support the Muscular Dystrop h y Association t h r o u g h municipal fire departments continue fund drives for that organization annually w i t h firemen taking an active role in them. "We feel the same thing I can be done for the new Burn I Medicine group," Prater I says. The Institute is now being I operated by a board of I tors and laymen interested in I burn treatment and literature I has been printed outlining the I goals of the organization. The Institute plans to I tern itself after other national I health organizations w h i c h I address themselves to a 1 ticular disease or injury. A I nationwide fund drive is I scheduled to be held for the I Institute this fall. I