The Arizona Burn Foundation’s goal is to address the issue of burn-injury prevention to the most vulnerable population for this type of injury: Children under the age of 12”

Mik Milem, Arizona Burn Foundation chief operations officer

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Loss of life and property engulfed in flames is a tragic experience no one deserves, and since 1967 the Arizona Burn Foundation has been dedicated to the emotional and financial recovery of families forced to endure and navigate the tumultuous aftermath.

“The Arizona Burn Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of burn survivors and their families while promoting burn-prevention advocacy and education in Arizona,” said Arizona Burn Foundation Chief Operations Officer Mik Milem.

“Founded in 1967, by two doctors from the Arizona Burn Center and an attorney, ABF has existed from the beginning to provide support for burn survivors and their families and to be a leader in burn prevention and fire safety education and advocacy.”

Established as the only 501(c)3 Arizona nonprofit organization serving the holistic well being of a burn survivor, the Arizona Burn Foundation provides support programs that help children and adults cope with the devastating psychological and physical effects of sustained injuries.

Injuries from fire, Burn Foundation officials explain, can range from accidents to abuse --- and a wide range of fire injuries have physical and mental effects.

“Our method for providing support for burn survivors and their families begins with employing two social workers who keep office hours at the Arizona Burn Center, the second busiest burn center in the United States,” said Mr. Milem of the Phoenix-based Arizona Burn Foundation at 1432 N. 7th St.

“The social workers are present to offer emotional support and financial assistance to families who have a loved one admitted to the Arizona Burn Center. Once a burn survivor is released from the burn center, our social workers will develop a care plan for the burn survivor, and their family, and offer the services and programs we have available, including: peer support groups, camps and retreats, therapy services, and social gatherings.”

Injuries from fire can force a person to have to come to terms with a new quality of life and a new approach to accomplishing day-to-day tasks many may take for granted, Burn Foundation officials say.

Furthermore, Mr. Milem explains much of the Burn Foundation’s work centers around society’s most vulnerable.

“The Arizona Burn Foundation’s goal is to address the issue of burn-injury prevention to the most vulnerable population for this type of injury: Children under the age of 12,” Mr. Milem said. “Our goal is to reach and educate approximately 200,000-plus Arizona preschool children, and their families, through our statewide children’s burn prevention education program: Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety Rangers --- resulting in a reduction of pediatric burn injuries.”

One of Arizona Burn Foundation’s primary focuses continues to be children, which includes key programs like:

1. Camp Courage, a week-long summer camp for child burn survivors with ages from 6 to 20.
2. Family Camp, which is designed for preschool burn survivors and their families.
3. A Young Adult Retreat, for adult burn survivors with ages from 18 to 25.
4. Direct client care services and social events held throughout the year, including an annual holiday party and the MacDonald Wood Scholarship Program.

Mr. Milem contends education and prevention plays a key role in preventing the damage fire can have on property and people.
“Our second effort to help people prevent injuries from fire is our Community Smoke Alarm Program,” he said.

“Partnering with local fire departments across Arizona, we will reinforce safety messaging by installing free dual-sensor smoke alarms throughout at-risk Arizona neighborhoods during these events, we will install free smoke alarms and provide educational materials to educate residents and families, on fire safety, burn-injury prevention and the importance of working home smoke alarms. ABF has installed more free smoke alarms in Arizona than any other organization, over 20,000 since 2006.”

The Milo & Moxie pursuit

A key outreach goal of the Arizona Burn Foundation in calendar year 2020 is to effectively educate more than 200,000 children --- and their households --- on the dangers of fire.

The effort, embodied in the Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety Rangers program, is cute at first glance, but primarily focused on a key mission: Lessen the frequency of pediatric burn victims.

“The focus for delivery is to the 2,481 state-licensed preschools in each of the state’s 15 counties. Our program also targets these children’s homes,” Mr. Milem said. “Each take-home activity books [that] contain a parent guide for adults to learn how to keep their children safe from a burn injury, as well as a planning page for families to create their own home fire-escape plans.”

Mr. Milem outlines outreach is not limited to school districts.

“In addition, we have partnered with over 60 Arizona Fire Departments, eight Arizona hospitals, and numerous social service agencies that serve children across the state, to deliver the Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety Rangers program to elementary children,” he said. “ABF is the recognized leader in providing burn prevention and fire safety messages to children in Arizona.”

And, those safety messages are vital, Mr. Milem explains.

“In Arizona, burns and scalds are the fourth leading cause of accidental deaths among children, and many can be prevented with education and training,” he noted of the sad figures. “The most current and comprehensive burn prevention and fire safety education program on the market to-date, Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety Rangers has been enthusiastically embraced by the community since its 2017 launch.”

Fiesta Bowl Charities has provided a $25,000 grant to help the Arizona Burn Foundation distribute vital information to preschools throughout Arizona.

Mr. Milem says those grant dollars cover hard costs of distribution.

“Funds will be used for the printing/distribution of materials to educate 200,000 Pre-K students throughout Arizona with the Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety rangers program AND to install 2,000 free smoke alarms to at-risk homes,” he said.

Kristina Chumpol, Fiesta Bowl community relations director, says she believes in the notion educational materials can make a real difference in saving lives.

“Absolutely. Education in all forms is critical. Through the Milo & Moxie: Smart Safety Rangers program, children are given the tools they need to make safe choices and protect themselves,” she said.

“When the Fiesta Bowl Charities Charitable Giving Committee reviewed this application there was clear alignment with our core pillars, specifically youth and education. Arizona Burn Foundation is a nonprofit in this community that continues to do great work and support vulnerable youth across the state.”

Go to azburn.org.