Shriners Hospitals for Children Brings Critically Injured Guatemalan Children to United States for Treatment

TAMPA, Fla., March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Shriners Hospitals for Children® has admitted seven children in critical condition with burn injuries suffered in the March 8 children's shelter fire in Guatemala. The children have been transported to the Boston and Galveston Shriners Hospitals pediatric burn centers. Critically burned patients are typically placed in pediatric intensive care units due to the severity of their injuries. Multidisciplinary teams at each location will provide all aspects of burn care, which could include surgery, treatment, rehabilitation and psychological support.

Within 24-hours of the disaster, Shriners Hospitals deployed an emergency medical team to Guatemala to provide onsite evaluation and care. The team worked with Guatemalan and U.S. officials to secure approval to transfer those who required further treatment at Shriners Hospitals in the United States. A second team has been sent to Guatemala to provide additional support. Shriners Hospitals for Children stands ready to help other Guatemalan children if needed.

"Shriners Hospitals is uniquely prepared to respond to a tragedy of this proportion, having specialized pediatric burn hospitals across the country," said Chris Smith, chairman of the Board of Directors, Shriners Hospitals for Children. "We have a deep history of mobilizing to respond to tragedies across the globe and have committed to help these children."

Since entering the field in the 1960s, Shriners Hospitals for Children has contributed to most of the significant advancements in acute and reconstructive pediatric burn care. Shriners Hospitals is often sought out for complex domestic and international cases.

Since 1922, Shriners Hospitals for Children has provided pediatric specialty care to children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. Shriners Hospitals has treated more than 1.3 million children from more than 180 countries over the last 95 years.

For more information, go to shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our 22 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. All care is provided regardless of the families' ability to pay. Learn more at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Contact: Meredith Resnick
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-549-0807

SOURCE Shriners Hospitals for Children

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http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org