Children with burns strive to be deadly

Swimming, canoeing and a high ropes course were on the agenda last week for nine children receiving treatment at Townsville University Hospital for severe burns.

The children, accompanied by Townsville University Hospital occupational therapists and Indigenous liaison officers attended a three-day camp at Paluma Environmental Education Centre, jam packed with action and adventure to support their recovery.

Townsville University Hospital paediatric burns service senior occupational therapist Ms Deb Phillips said Burns Camp NQ – Striving Deadly was the first of its kind in North Queensland.

“This camp was an opportunity for children having difficulty adjusting to their injury to connect with other children who have received treatment for burns,” she said.

“Children with burns are impacted by scarring, movement difficulty and challenges doing basic kid stuff like playing sports and going to school.

“This can have a profound effect on children when they realise, they have a physical difference to their peers and cannot live life as they did before their injury.

“Kids are great at helping each other cope with visible differences, offering friendship and helping to build a sense of confidence in each other.”

Ms Phillips said the children tackled tasks such as a leap of faith, high ropes courses, walking tracks, a giant swing and canoeing.

“Some of the kids received their burns as recently as February, so these activities weren’t easy for everyone,” she said.

“The camp gave the kids the chance to be challenged and take their recovery beyond the hospital environment.

“All of the activities allowed the kids to take risks in a safe environment as well as use their independence to manage problems and feel a sense of success and achievement.”

Indigenous hospital liaison officer Miranda Koskela said it was great to see the children form close bonds during the camp.

“For children like Wakeem from remote Indigenous communities, these types of camps and activities do not come along often and it’s nice for them to know that they aren’t forgotten once they leave hospital,” she said.

“I know he and the other children made memories that will last a lifetime and really benefited from talking about their experiences.”

The camp was funded by Children’s Health Queensland Working Wonders with Children Grant.