From Flames to Futures: The A-Mar Foundation’s Mission
Burn injuries are life-altering, particularly for children who must endure the physical and emotional toll for years. In Puerto Rico, the A-Mar Foundation stands as a beacon of hope for families navigating these challenges. Dedicated to prevention, education, and long-term care, the foundation is reshaping the narrative for burn survivors across the island.
Founded with a mission to close the critical gaps in burn care and prevention, the A-Mar Foundation addresses an underserved yet deeply impacted sector of Puerto Rico’s health system. By focusing on both immediate and long-term needs, the foundation not only aids in physical healing but also fosters resilience and empowerment within affected families and communities. Their comprehensive approach demonstrates a steadfast commitment to transforming lives, one step at a time.
Rebuilding Lives: The Heart of the A-Mar Foundation
At its core, the A-Mar Foundation is committed to addressing the critical needs of burned children and their families in Puerto Rico. Their initiatives focus on four key areas:
- Burn Prevention Awareness Recognizing that most burn accidents occur at home, the foundation has launched public prevention campaigns, including an educational curriculum tailored for early childhood. These efforts aim to instill safety practices in families and young children.
As the foundation emphasizes, “Most burn accidents can be prevented through awareness and simple safety measures at home.”
- Health Professional Accreditation Burn survivors often require specialized care for decades. Unfortunately, Puerto Rico lacks sufficiently trained professionals. A-Mar is working to bridge this gap by advocating advanced training and accreditation for local doctors and health workers.
- Family Support The financial burden of burn care can be overwhelming. From medication to pressure garments that need frequent replacement as children grow, A-Mar assists families in accessing these essential resources.
As one parent shared, “A-Mar has been our lifeline, providing support when we needed it the most. They helped us secure specialized pressure garments for our child, covered the costs of vital creams and medications, and offered emotional support during our most difficult days. Without their assistance, our recovery journey would have been much harder.”
- Legislative Advocacy To create systemic change, the foundation is pushing for the establishment of Burn Prevention Month in Puerto Rico, aligning with National Burn Awareness Week in the United States.
Educational Efforts and Community Engagement
Through partnerships with institutions like the University of Puerto Rico, A-Mar has developed educational video tools that teach burn prevention in ways children can understand and apply. These materials empower families to create safer environments. Practical tips—such as fill the bathtub with cold water and turn it warm with hot water and do not carry your child with anything hot in your hands—are simple yet effective steps that save lives.
The foundation also provides guidance on emergency response, reminding the public to act swiftly but avoid common mistakes, such as DO NOT remove the victim’s clothing, especially if it is stuck to the skin when treating burns.
Support A-Mar Foundation
The work of A-Mar Foundation is vital to reducing the number of burn accidents and ensuring survivors receive the care they need. However, their mission relies on public generosity. Donations enable the foundation to:
- Provide medical supplies and pressure garments to families.
- Train more local healthcare professionals.
- Expand their educational outreach to underserved communities.
Volunteers play a crucial role in amplifying the foundation’s impact. Whether helping with prevention campaigns or supporting fundraising events, every effort contributes to a safer and more supportive environment for burn survivors.
Safe Homes, Bright Futures
The A-Mar Foundation for Burned Children is transforming lives by addressing the urgent needs of Puerto Rico’s burn survivors and their families. Through prevention, education, advocacy, and support, they are building a future where no child faces a burn injury alone.
Join their mission today. Donate to help a family in need or volunteer your time to spread awareness. Ensure that every burn survivor has the resources and support they need to be healthy, emotionally and socially.
National Burn Awareness Week, every February, presented by the American Burn Association, is a chance to unite and promote burn prevention and awareness in communities. Focusing on reducing burn risks in homes, apartments, and all living spaces.
CONTACT
Fundación A-Mar para niños quemados Inc.
Telephone: (787) 415-9008
Email: prevencion@a-mar.org
Website: http://a-mar.org/
YouTube: @fundaciona-marparaninosque904
Facebook: A-Mar (Fundación para Niños Quemados)
Image Credits:
Fundación A-Mar para niños quemados Inc.
American Burn Association