A burn can change a life. Knowing how to handle things when you get burned, or the steps to follow quickly can save a life. The regional burn center at OSF Saint Anthony is one of only five burn centers in Illinois. The center cares for approximately 200 acute burn survivors every year.  Dr. Stathis Poulakidas, a medical director for the burn center says that they have had very good outcomes considering some of the burns that they have dealt with.

Dr. Poulakidas specifically remembered a certain burn victim, Bob Goodbred of Earlville, Illinois. Goodbred, who was 75 years old, was burned after doing maintenance on a snow plow. Goodbred ended up being pinned underneath and broke five ribs all while being burned by a torch he was using to fix the plow. 

Dr. Poulakidas says that the road to recovery for burn victims can be as long as 50 to 100 days but technology has made great strides to helping burn victims recover. Goodbred was only in the hospital for 17 days and is expected to make a full recovery.

Smoking and open flame are the leading causes of burn injuries for older adults, while scalding is the leading cause of burn injury for young children.