Lori Mabry, center, with burn survivor Kyhrie Harris, left, and Dennis Gardin, executive director of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

It only took a few moments for a burn to change Lori Mabry's life.

 

As a teenager in Greenville, S.C., Mabry was riding with her friends in a Ford Mustang convertible when the driver lost control of the car. Not wearing a seat belt, she was tossed out of the car as it flipped over. Mabry landed underneath it, with the car's catalytic converter sitting across her stomach.

 

"I was basically lying under the car cooking," she said.

 

Mabry was flown to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, where she spent 70 days in a drug-induced coma recovering from her nearly fatal injuries. The accident destroyed the muscles and tissue of her abdominal wall.

 

Mabry, now a special events coordinator for the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, said she knows her injuries were unique. But it's important for people to know burns are serious, life-changing injuries. Everyone should know that burns can happen in any situation, and nearly all of them can be prevented, she said.

 

"Everyone thinks that's not going to happen to me, but accidents happen to everyone," she said. "The best thing we can do is try to keep ourselves as safe as possible."

 

According to the American Burn Association (ABA), about 450,000 Americans receive medical treatment for burns each year and about 3,500 people die from these injuries. A majority of the injuries are the result of home fires, but according to a 2012 ABA report, scalding from hot liquids or surfaces account for one-third of burn injuries.

 

Scott Cagle, fire marshal for Hall County Fire Services, said it's critical for parents to anticipate ways to protect their children from scalds and burns.

 

"People seem to forget that children are quick and curious. It only takes a few seconds for children to get into a bad situation that can lead to a life-changing burn injury," he said. "If you take the time, there are some pretty simple things you can do to prevent these horrific incidents."

 

In the kitchen, parents should create a "kid-free zone" in the path between the sink and the stove. If possible, cook on the back burners of stoves, and keep pot handles and appliance cords away from the counter's edge. Never cook or carry hot liquids while holding a child.

 

When thinking about kitchen burns, the stove and oven are usually the appliances that come to mind, but Cagle said the same rules apply to cooking in the microwave. Parents should establish a kid-free zone around the microwave and always use potholders when removing items after heating.

 

Heated water that is too hot also can easily scald children and adults. The temperature of a water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees. An easy way to test the temperature of water at home is to turn on the hot water for three to five minutes, then measure the water's temperature with a candy or meat thermometer.

 

Knowing the basics of fire safety is also critical to preventing burns. Store matches and lighters where children can't get to them. Make sure smoke detectors are installed and working in your home and that your family knows two ways out of the house if it catches fire. If a person does catch fire, remember the drill: stop, drop and roll.

 

For more information, visit the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation at www.gfbf.org.