ANN ARBOR, MI - An extraordinary video produced by the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center that portrays the medical consequences of burn injuries through children’s first person narratives has won a major international award.

The video, “In an Instant…”, has been judged to be the 2003 FREDDIE award recipient in the category of Safety & First Aid by The International Health & Medical Media Awards. The U-M Trauma Burn will receive the award on Nov. 7 at a black tie ceremony in Los Angeles, CA.

Known as the Oscars of Medicine, it attracts the best feature-length films, documentaries, series, shorts, videos, web sites and CD-ROMS from around the world. The pieces entered in to the competition engage hundreds of thousands of professionals, educators and media producers who seek to explore the health and medical issues that change people’s lives.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, and hope the recognition will promote awareness of this important video and the powerful message it contains,” says Pamela Pucci, R.N., B.S.N. Pucci, an injury prevention educator, conceived and coordinated the video’s development for the U-M Trauma Burn Center, which is part of the U-M Health System.

Established in 1974 as the John Muir Medical Film Festival, the competition is now the preeminent event devoted entirely to health and medical audio-visuals. The International Health & Medical Media Awards’ objective and rigorous judging is the industry standard. Participants, including nominees and winners of Oscars, Emmys and other major awards, enter the competition in which filmmakers compete in 35 categories for the FREDDIE.

“In an Instant…” won the FREDDIE award in the category of Safety & First Aid over two other finalists, including “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Heads Up” produced by Home Box Office (HBO). The video has also received a Golden Eagle Award from CINE, an organization that recognizes the best of non-theatrical film.

Victor/Harder Productions Inc. produced “In an Instant…” with the U-M Trauma Burn Center with the intent to illustrate the medical consequences of burn injuries through the real-life experiences of children and teens who were burned after accidents, or who were carelessness with matches, gasoline, hot water or hot grease.

“In an Instant…” follows these children and teens through their treatment, allowing them to relate in their own words the experiences they have endured physically and psychologically.

The survivors’ stories are interspersed with footage of the different stages of burn treatment, and interviews with fire fighters who have risked their lives in fires caused by accidents or arson, and the U-M medical staff who have cared for burn patients, including Pucci and Paul Taheri, M.D., MBA, the director of the Trauma Burn Center. In addition to showing the medical consequences, the video also emphasizes important prevention tips and safety measures.

“Our goal is to prevent these injuries before they occur,” states Taheri. “By giving kids, teens, and adults a glimpse of the excruciating pain, long term treatment, scarring, and risk of death that can literally happen in an instant with the striking of a match or a careless spark, we hope to drive home the message of the importance of caution and prevention.”

The 29 minute video, “In an Instant…”, is available through Pyramid Media for $149, which includes an 11 minute edited version. To order a copy, call 1-800-421-2304 or visit www.pyramidmedia.com/.

For more information about the U-M Trauma Burn Center, visit www.traumaburn.org.

To learn more about the FREDDIE awards, go to www.thefreddies.com/sponsors.html.

Written by Steffanie Samuels

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