October 17, 2006

U-M Trauma Burn Center awards local fire departments’ fire prevention programs

Leland Gayheart Fire Safety & Prevention Award given to Grand Traverse, Marquette fire departments

ANN ARBOR, MI – The University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center today announced the Marquette Fire Department and the Grand Traverse Fire Department as the 2006 recipients of the Leland Gayheart Fire Safety & Prevention Award.

Each year, the U-M Trauma Burn Center’s Injury Prevention Team presents the Leland Gayheart Fire Safety & Prevention Award to a Michigan fire department in recognition of its efforts in fire prevention and education.

The award, which recognizes outstanding creativity and innovation in fire prevention and education programs, is named in honor of a young fire fighter who lost his life after a devastating burn injury. The family of Leland Gayheart established the endowment to provide an honorarium of $500 annually to a Michigan fire department that is leading the way in community fire safety and education.

The Grand Traverse Fire Department and the Marquette Fire Department each managed and facilitate successful juvenile fire setter programs in collaboration with their local agencies, schools and court systems. These juvenile fire setter programs incorporate education on burn injuries and the consequences of fire setting to present a comprehensive intervention opportunity during a critical stage of a young person’s development.

For more information on the Leland Gayheart Fire Safety and Prevention Award, visit www.traumaburn.org.

About the U-M Trauma Burn Center
The U-M Trauma Burn Center is a Level 1 Trauma and Burn Verified Center by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association. The Center is a leader in innovative and effective patient care and has a strong commitment to research, education and injury prevention.  Each year, an average of 1,500 patients suffering from traumatic injuries and burns are admitted to the Center.

Written by Alicia Hoiles

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