Zee Mundo to Premiere Bollywood Comedy Double-Header

November 17, 2016

MIAMI, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This coming Saturday, November 19, 2016, Zee Mundo brings two Bollywood hits in Spanish that audiences will not want to miss. With an all-star cast that includes Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, and Anil Kapoor, Welcome and its sequel, Welcome Back are two hilarious stories about mafia dons who struggle with traditional family ties and a transition to legitimate businessmen.

When:

Welcome airs on Saturday, November 19 at 10:00 p.m. ET – 9:00 p.m. CT – 8:00 p.m. MT – 7:00 p.m. PT, followed by Welcome Back.

Where:

Zee Mundo channel available on Dish (Channel 822) and Sling Latino, the only destination for Bollywood in Spanish and in HD.

Plots:

Welcome: Mobsters RDX (Feroz Khan,) and Uday (Nana Patekar) seek a nice boy from a decent family, with the help of fellow gangster, Majnu (Anil Kapoor,) to marry the sister, Sanjana (Katrina Kaif.) Akshay Kumar plays the eccentric Rajiv who falls in love with the sister of the scandalous gangster and chaos sets in.
Welcome Back: Uday and Majnu, having left the underworld since the original story, are now businessmen in Dubai when two women, Chandni and Maharani, enter their lives. The men dream of marrying, but must still find a husband for Uday’s sister, Sanjana.

Stars:

Akshay Kumar (Welcome and Welcome Back): A certified Bollywood star and one of its highest paid actors, Kumar is a leading producer, and martial artist with more than 100 movies to his credit.
Nana Patekar (Welcome and Welcome Back): An actor, writer and filmmaker, mainly working in Hindi and Marathi films, Patekar is referred to as the Morgan Freeman of Bollywood.
Anil Kapoor (Welcome and Welcome Back): Actor and producer, Kapoor has appeared in many Bollywood films, as well as international films and television series (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol).
Katrina Kaif (Welcome): British film actress and model, Kaif is one of Bollywood’s highest-paid actresses, and considered one of India’s most attractive celebrities.

About Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL)
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the biggest content aggregators and distributors of Hindi programming and other languages in the world, with an extensive library of more than 222,000 hours of television content. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains more than one billion viewers across 171 countries. More information about ZEE and its businesses is available at zeetelevision.com

(Español) La lista de juguetes debe empezar por la seguridad

November 17, 2016

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http//:www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Further recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

(Español) Más seguros juntos: CPSC y CBP colaboran para mantener a los juguetes inseguros fuera de los anaqueles de las tiendas

November 17, 2016

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Mazda Unveils New Prototype Race Car at Los Angeles Auto Show

November 17, 2016

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Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The new Mazda RT24-P race car was unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, ushering a new era in the prominent history of Mazda Motorsports’ flagship endeavors in North America. The new car will compete under Daytona Prototype international (DPi) rules in the Prototype class, the top level of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. After significant on-track testing, it will make its racing debut at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona in late January.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440358

KODO Design

Mazda is known globally for the engineering and design excellence of its vehicles, and the new Prototype is no exception. The bodywork of the race car was developed by Mazda designers utilizing the KODO—Soul of Motion design philosophy. KODO represents the instant that energy becomes motion, such as the muscular beauty as an animal pounces or a human leaps into action. The KODO design cues on the Mazda RT24-P include the sleek body contours and the five-point Mazda grille.

“KODO design is at the heart of any vehicle that carries a Mazda badge, and that is very evident in the design of the 2017 Prototype,” said Ken Saward, senior manager of Design at Mazda Design Americas, which falls under the Mazda North American Operations umbrella. “We considered the two main parameters of designing a successful race car for this series: aerodynamic performance and the new-for-2017 technical regulations. Working with Multimatic’s aerodynamicist and engineers, we discovered that applying the KODO design philosophy to the surfaces and the silhouette of the car enabled us to create a dynamic, purposeful-looking design and a very aerodynamically efficient one.”

Managing the two-car Mazda Prototype factory race team is Florida-based SpeedSource Race Engineering. The team will race the new Riley Mk. 30 chassis, developed by Riley Technologies in relationship with Multimatic. Riley Technologies is a prominent chassis design and development company with 99 race wins and nine Prototype season championships in North American endurance racing since 2004. Canadian-based Multimatic has worked with Mazda since 2014 in the Prototype category, and has developed and built some of the world’s premier on-road supercars and successful sports cars for the race track. The Mazda team will be the first to test the Riley Mk. 30 chassis later this month.

The Mazda RT24-P will be powered by the Mazda MZ-2.0T engine which raced during the 2016 IMSA season. The approximately 600-horsepower engine, developed and raced with Advanced Engine Research (AER), is a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

“This is a huge moment for Mazda Motorsports and the entire Mazda family,” said John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports North America. “To have a car which features Mazda design language at the top level of our motorsports program is meaningful for us as a brand. We believe we have the right team, the right drivers and the right chassis to win races and championships.

“Mazda has good, long-standing relationships with Riley and Multimatic, and is happy to be the first to test their new chassis. We look forward to seeing it make its racing debut at Daytona with Mazda bodywork and the Mazda MZ-2.0T engine. The strategic vision of IMSA to give auto manufacturers this opportunity to integrate our branding —to better engage our passionate fans— is unique and we’re proud to be the first to unveil what is possible.”

What’s in a Name?

The Mazda RT24-P name echoes the Mazda Road to 24, a driver development program that provides scholarships to help championship-winning drivers progress from grassroots into the upper categories of professional sports car racing. The “24” also represents the two-liter, four-cylinder race engine. The “P” signifies Prototype.

Mazda currently holds a more-than-55-percent market share in grassroots racing, and the Mazda Road to 24 helps provide championship-winning drivers an opportunity to earn scholarships to compete in pro categories such as the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich Tires. Mazda’s similar scholarship system in open-wheel racing is known as the Mazda Road to Indy. By the start of the 2017 season, Mazda will have provided $14.9 million in driver development scholarships to 53 drivers since 2007.

Mazda Motorsports

Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24) program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy (#MRTI) is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is the title sponsor of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

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Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner Joins Olympusat’s Advisory Board

November 17, 2016

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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Olympusat, Inc., one of the largest independent media companies specializing in the ownership, distribution, production and technical services of Spanish- and English-language networks, announced the formation of an advisory board, composed of accomplished business leaders and influencers, including former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

“We are delighted to bring together such talented executives to help us continue to anticipate new industry needs in the rapidly evolving media and technology market place,” said Tom Mohler, CEO of Olympusat Holdings. “We look forward to leveraging the experience of our board as we continue our rapid growth.”

Olympusat’s Advisory Board members are:

John Boehner, former U.S. House Speaker

“Olympusat is poised for significant growth as a media and technology company, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to offer my perspective and insights as it moves forward,” stated John Boehner, a member of the advisory board. “There is a growing demand for what Olympusat offers, particularly in underserved communities that want greater access to news, information and other content, and I’m glad to be part of it.”

Chairman Douglas Maine, Limited Partner and Senior Advisor to Brown Brothers Harriman Capital Partners

Mr. Maine enjoyed a highly successful career at IBM Corp., where he served as their Chief Financial Officer, Unit President, and other varied responsibilities. Before joining IBM, Maine was Chief Financial Officer at MCI Communication Corp, and prior to that President of their 14-State Southern Division. In addition to his current role, Maine serves on the Board of Directors of three public companies.

“I am excited to form and chair a board that will bring together a group of respected and accomplished individuals. Olympusat has assembled a superior set of assets that serves the fastest growing consumer entertainment segment in the U.S.,” said Douglas Maine, Chairman to the board. “The company is at an inflection point for growth, and I look forward to working collectively with the talented management team to further accelerate that growth.”

Jonathan Mariner, Former EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball

Before retiring after 23 years in professional sports, Mr. Mariner also served as Chief Investment Officer of MLB, where he oversaw their endowment and pension funds, potential new investments, and their captive insurance company. He also provided financial oversight for Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), one of the most successful marriages of technology and streaming video content. Prior to joining the MLB, Mariner served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Marlins.

“As I saw first-hand during my time with MLB, the Hispanic audience is multi-faceted, requiring a deep understanding of its viewing habits and of its buying characteristics,” stated Jonathan Mariner, a member of the advisory board. “I am excited to be working with a company like Olympusat who has developed such a rich knowledge of this vibrant community.”

To learn more about Olympusat’s industry-leading efforts, please visit www.olympusat.com.
Olympusat – Editorial Contact:
Jesus Piñango
561-249-5228
[email protected]

CliniSanitas and ConnectiCare Open its Network of Multicultural Medical Centers in Connecticut

November 17, 2016

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NEWINGTON, Conn, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CliniSanitas and ConnectiCare are marking a major milestone in their vision to expand access to high quality and culturally relevant health care with the opening of a network of medical centers in Connecticut. Beginning November 28, CliniSanitas Medical Centers will open three new facilities in Newington, Bridgeport and Orange. The centers will offer primary care, specialty care, urgent care, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, as well as health education and wellness services. All three centers will offer extended evening and weekend hours, with walk-ins welcome. The centers are staffed with medical and administrative staff who are bilingual in English and Spanish.

This expansion is the result of a strategic alliance between GuideWell Sanitas and ConnectiCare to serve the health care needs of Connecticut’s growing multicultural population, while helping to address the long-standing disparities in the health status of people from culturally diverse backgrounds. ConnectiCare is the only health insurance plan being accepted by the CliniSanitas Medical Centers, which will also serve those paying directly for health care services and those with traditional Medicare coverage.

CliniSanitas has more than 40 years of health care experience with over 200 facilities in South America. In 2015, the first stateside CliniSanitas centers were opened in Florida. Their model is focused on improving access to quality primary care services, and delivering the best health outcomes while preventing unnecessary high medical costs. This is accomplished by fostering a strong and long-lasting doctor-patient relationship with longer appointments—allowing doctors to spend more time with their patients; offering an ample mix of services so patients can have one place for most health needs; and bringing a bilingual and culturally sensitive experience—starting with the medical team and support staff, educational materials, the patient portal and disease and wellness outreach programs.

“We’re excited to start our journey in Connecticut in partnership with ConnectiCare and GuideWell to bring our proven model of patient-centered care to the diverse community of Connecticut. These new medical centers will build on our successful centers in Miami, Florida, and our experience transforming healthcare in South America,” said Dr. Fernando Fonseca, Chief Executive Officer of CliniSanitas. “We believe that primary care can appropriately handle the health needs that patients have most of the time, and that quality care may mean something different for each patient. That’s why our approach to care is comprehensive and highly personalized—with a primary care medical team who knows you, speaks your language, guides you and cares for you over the long-term.”

“The CliniSanitas Medical Centers will help us deliver on our brand promise to make it easy for our members to get the care they need. ConnectiCare is pleased to help bring the people of Connecticut access to the high quality and culturally relevant health care provided by the CliniSanitas Medical Centers,” said Michael Wise, ConnectiCare’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“After the successful launch of the CliniSanitas Medical Centers in Florida, we wanted to begin to address multicultural medical needs and disparities by bringing high quality health solutions to other geographic areas of the country,” said Prakash Patel, M.D., Chief Operating Officer of Guidewell. “By collaborating with ConnectiCare, a dedicated partner with unparalleled knowledge of the health care needs in the state, GuideWell Sanitas will be able to offer residents of Orange, Newington and Bridgeport access to a unique health and wellness experience.”

About CliniSanitas
CliniSanitas Medical Centers is a joint venture between two leading health care organizations – GuideWell Mutual Holding Company and Organización Sanitas Internacional. GuideWell is a U.S.-based not-for-profit mutual holding company and the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming healthcare. Sanitas is a leading multinational health business group with presence in the United States, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil and Mexico. The companies are collaborating in an effort to expand access to high quality and culturally relevant health care in the United States.

About ConnectiCare
ConnectiCare is a leading health plan in the state of Connecticut. ConnectiCare’s mission is to make it easy for members to get the care they need. A local company for 35 years, ConnectiCare has a full range of products and services for businesses, municipalities, individuals and those who are Medicare-eligible. A subsidiary of Emblem Health, ConnectiCare leads the individual, Medicare and small group markets in the state, and is ranked among the top commercial health plans in the nation, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information, visit connecticare.com or chooseconnecticare.com.

Media Kit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sandpa08dakm7og/AABK3dGcHb-kMWGHg_BAevrma?dl=0

FedEx to Sponsor Award-Winning Accion Program to Expand Business Training Access for Microentrepreneurs

November 17, 2016

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BOGOTA, Colombia, November 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Accion announced today that it has received a grant from FedEx to create a digital version – and ultimately expand the impact – of its award-winning Dialogue on Business (DOB) program. DOB is a classroom-based business education program designed for the working poor to ensure they have the skills they need to succeed in their microenterprises and support greater economic livelihoods.

The FedEx grant will support the adaptation of DOB to a digital format, making the program less expensive to deliver, more flexible, and more easily accessible for a broader audience. The program will be piloted and rolled out initially in Colombia.

“Creating a digital version of the Dialogue on Business program holds significant promise for expanding business literacy and capability, in Colombia, across Latin America, and potentially even globally,” said Michael Schlein, President and CEO at Accion. “FedEx’s support – and their shared commitment to serving small businesses and entrepreneurs – will enable us to expand access to this essential training for the many microentrepreneurs who could benefit from business skills training and education, but are constrained by time and distance.”

“Our support of Accion’s Dialogue on Business (DOB) is one of many FedEx Cares investments in the area of Global Entrepreneurship,” said Jenny Robertson, Director of Global Citizenship at FedEx. “Our objective in that area is to advance women and minority-owned small businesses globally, helping them access new markets and grow. Accion’s DOB program has the potential to empower entrepreneurs and create connections.”

To fulfill Accion’s mission of building a financially inclusive world, it provides support to microentrepreneurs through client education initiatives, one of which is the DOB program. Since DOB’s launch in 1999, more than 830,000 entrepreneurs (62% women) have been trained in 16 countries on 2 continents. More than 50 program modules – available in Spanish, English, and Portuguese – focus on a range of topics, including “Starting a Business,” “Improving Business Competitiveness,” and “Making the Most of Money.”

The digital version of the program will focus particularly on women entrepreneurs in peri-urban and semi-rural areas, and will be designed specifically for a low-income, low-literacy audience, with the goal of improving participants’ business skills. It will be rolled out initially in Colombia, where a large portion of the population is self-employed or employed in the informal sector where many microenterprises operate.

Over the long term, Accion aims to make its new digital program widely available across the Latin America region and beyond, benefitting entrepreneurs whose access to such training is otherwise constrained.

About Accion

Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a financially inclusive world with economic opportunity for all, by giving people the financial tools they need to improve their lives. We are building the next generation of top-tier microfinance institutions, and over more than 50 years have helped build 65 such institutions in 32 countries on four continents that today reach millions of clients. Our impact investing initiatives are pushing beyond microfinance to catalyze more than 30 innovative start-ups dedicated to improving the efficiency, reach, and scope of financial services for the poor. And our Center for Financial Inclusion is helping to build a stronger industry with high standards and broad engagement. Currently, our work spans nearly two dozen countries, including the U.S., where we are the nation’s largest nonprofit microfinance network. For further information, visit http://www.accion.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie Mounts
[email protected]
+1 202.280.5859

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Babies And Families Get Messages Of Hope Delivered By March Of Dimes On World Prematurity Day

November 17, 2016

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In observance of the 6^th annual World Prematurity Day, the March of Dimes is hand-delivering thousands of individual messages of hope and support sent by the public to premature and sick babies in hospital newborn intensive care units (NICUs) and their families around the country.

Cards and letters created online and in parent support groups for the March of Dimes Give them tomorrow initiative will be delivered today at events at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL; The Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center; and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, where participants are to include University of Houston men’s basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson and senior forward Danrad Knowles.

“The parents of premature babies can feel isolated and uncertain about the future,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “Our visit to the NICU today is to encourage these families and celebrate with them as part of World Prematurity Day that every baby deserves a fighting chance.”

Premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the #1 killer of babies in the United States. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk for lifelong disabilities including breathing problems, vision loss, cerebral palsy, and intellectual delays. About 15 million babies worldwide are born too soon each year.

The March of Dimes leads the World Prematurity Network, (WPN), a global coalition of consumer and parent groups working together to raise awareness and prevent premature birth in their countries. Through World Prematurity Day and other joint efforts, members call for action to prevent premature birth and improve care for babies and children. About 50 countries are participating in World Prematurity Day 2016 with purple lightings of famous buildings and landmarks — including the Empire State Building in New York City — wearing purple, sharing personal stories, outdoor events, and other demonstrations of support.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. Launched in fall 2016, Give them tomorrow unites the efforts of the March of Dimes, corporations, organizations, and individuals to raise awareness and fund the fight against premature birth. Give them tomorrow is supported by generous corporate partners including Mud Pie, Philips Avent, Famous Footwear, ALEX AND ANI, ALDI, Bon-Ton, and Anthem Foundation.

Mud Pie provided baby socks as gifts for NICU parents at the events in New York, Chicago and Houston to honor the baby whose poignant tale inspired them to find a meaningful way to ensure healthy first steps for all babies. Today, Mud Pie donates a dime to the March of Dimes for every pair of baby socks sold.

You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter. For more information on World Prematurity Day, visit facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay.

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Ana Ballabriga and David Zaplana win Amazon’s Third Literary Competition

November 17, 2016

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MIAMI, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Amazon has announced that Spaniards Ana Ballabriga and David Zaplana, coauthors of “Ningún escocés verdadero” [No True Scotsman], have won the Third Literary Competition for Independent Authors in Spanish.

From July 1st to August 31st this year, more than 1400 authors from 39 countries participated. Ismael Cala was the ambassador for the competition for the second consecutive year.

Countries with highest participation were Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, United States and Argentina.

“Ningún escocés verdadero” tells the story of Elías, a private investigator who specializes in art cases and was hired by the bishop of Murcia to find the Cross of Caravaca, which was stolen in 1934. His mission is to recover it for the Pope’s visit.

“We know where we have come from, and what it has taken us to get here, and right now the future looks like a marvelous place,” said the authors Ana Ballabriga and David Zaplana.

“This competition is a wonderful initiative to shed light on great Spanish works. Year after year, author’s and reader’s high participation show us that there are many more unknown books that millions of people are waiting to discover,” said Charles Kronbach, Director General of Amazon’s Independent Publications.

In the words of Ismael Cala, ambassador of the event and best-selling author: “Winning a competition is not a matter of luck, but of talent and perseverance. I want to congratulate both authors, but also all of the participants. Beyond the result, everyone has written a work and made it available to readers through Amazon. Success is collective, and our history is being written day by day. Onward!”

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

Life and human development strategist, best-selling author and international conference presenter. For more than five years, he presented CALA show, at prime time on CNN en Español.

He is currently considered one of the most important communicators of the continent, and his message of social entrepreneurship, mindfulness and well-being is a reference for millions of people who follow his work in books, seminars, workshops and conferences throughout all Latin America. Cala has traveled through more than 25 countries, and has impacted hundreds of thousands of people with his message.

He is currently an official collaborator of the program “Awaken America,” for Univisión chain, and he writes a weekly column for more than 50 publications in Latin America and the United States. “The New York Times” described him as “the Latin Larry King.”

Author of the best sellers “La vida es una piñata [Life is a piñata],” “El analfabeto emocional [The emotional illiterate],” “El poder de escuchar [The power of listening],” “Un buen hijo de P… [A real son of a B],” and “El secreto del bamboo [The secret of bamboo],” Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba (1969) and has a degree in Art History from Universidad de Oriente. He is coauthor of the book “Beat the curve,” with Brian Tracy. He graduated from the School of Communication at the University of York in Toronto, and has a Seneca diploma in Television Production. He has worked with grand masters such as Deepak Chopra and John C. Maxwell, and has trained with coaches such as Tony Robbins and Miguel Ruiz. Cala belongs to a group of collaborating professors at Atlantis University and Next University. Visit: http://www.ismaelcala.com/

Many Americans Do Not Practice Important Fire Safety Tips in Homes, Despite High Awareness

November 17, 2016

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70 percent of survey respondents are aware that live Christmas trees should be watered daily, but only 45 percent actually do.

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — According to an independent survey commissioned by Shriners Hospitals for Children^®, many do not follow key fire and burn safety tips during the holiday season, which can be the most dangerous time of year.

The national survey, conducted as part of the Shriners Hospitals for Children annual Be Burn Aware campaign, polled adults across the nation on their fire safety knowledge and practices. Although overall awareness was high, the survey revealed several gaps in action. The largest gap was associated with live Christmas trees, one of the most dangerous fire hazards in homes during this time of year. More than half of those surveyed said they do not water trees daily, even though nearly three-quarters of respondents were aware of the life-saving practice.*

Candle and cooking accidents account for a large portion of house fires and injuries, but the study revealed Americans are not taking simple steps to keep their homes safe. One-quarter of Americans surveyed said they leave lit candles unattended, and slightly more leave them in reach of children. The survey also found that two of the simplest prevention tips are often not followed in the kitchen – turning pot handles to the back of the stove and keeping a cookie sheet nearby to extinguish a fire.

The survey results also show:

70 percent are aware that live Christmas trees should be watered daily, but only 45 percent actually do.
25 percent leave lit candles unattended in their homes.
27 percent leave lit candles within the reach of children.
47 percent do not keep a lid or cookie sheet nearby when cooking to extinguish a fire.
25 percent do not turn pot handles to the back of the stove and out of children’s reach.

“Some of these findings seem alarming but each year our burn hospitals see the results – children who’ve been injured in cooking related accidents or in fires associated with decorations or candles,” said Kenneth Guidera, M.D., chief medical officer at Shriners Hospitals for Children. “These injuries can mean years of ongoing treatments to a child’s growing skin and extensive rehabilitation.”

To help reduce fires and burns, Shriners Hospitals for Children is spreading important prevention messages through its Be Burn Aware campaign. Public service announcements, featuring actor Joe Minoso from the NBC hit show Chicago Fire, urge families to take precautions like watering live Christmas trees daily to reduce fire risks. The hospital system also has activity books, tip cards and a five-minute online quiz to help families avoid holiday injuries at beburnaware.org.

“As the nation’s leader in pediatric burn care, we want to remind the public of the simple precautions they can take to reduce the risks of fires and burns for a safe and happy holiday season,” said Chris Smith, chairman of the Board of Directors, Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Should a severe burn occur, our expert medical staff is here to help, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. It’s just another way we send Love to the rescue^®.”

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.

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. Learn more at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

* Study by Shriners Hospitals for Children, August 2016.

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

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