Finally, Over the NEPA Mountain!

Burn Prevention Network (BPN) recently expanded the Home Safe Home hospital-based program for new mothers to the mother/baby, PICU and NICU units of Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor hospital, Lehigh Valley Health Network Hazelton, Lehigh Valley Health Network Pocono, and Lehigh Valley Health Network Schuylkill. This unique program has been operating in Lehigh Valley hospitals for nearly 20 years and teaches new mothers about the ways babies and toddlers are burned and how to keep their family safe.

BPN had been doing some activities in NEPA for nearly a decade. BPN honored Scranton and Wilkes-Barre fire fighters and civilians at the Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage awards. The organization presented consumer firework safety information at regional press conferences hosted by Scranton Fire Department. We also provide burn survivor support to children anywhere in Pennsylvania, including NEPA, who have survived a serious burn. Despite this important work, most of our award-winning burn and fire prevention programs have not traditionally been offered in Northeast PA.

“The absence of programming in the Northeast was never intentional,” says BPN CEO and Executive Director, Corissa Rolon. “It comes down to limited relationships and staffing. The organization’s prevention programs have traditionally been funded by foundations and donors who restrict their support to other geographic areas, such as the Lehigh Valley. There is a moral imperative for us to build relationships with new donors so we can expand programming north. For every three children who are burned in NEPA, we know our programs would have likely prevented one of those families from suffering through the trauma of a burn”.

Terrence “Terry” Osborne, agreed. When he became Chair of Burn Prevention Network’s Board of Directors, he committed to getting BPN’s prevention programs “over the mountain” during his term. Terry is a lifelong Scranton resident, former Deputy Chief of the Fire Department for the City of Scranton, and current Human Resource Specialist for Middle District of PA US Probation Office. He previously served as Vice Chair of BPN’s Board of Directors.

Chief Osborne stated, “throughout my career serving in the Scranton Fire Department, I was aware of the tremendous care provided at the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Regional Burn Center for burn victims from throughout Northeast PA, and the dedicated follow-up support provided to those burn victims by the Burn Prevention Network. It is now my hope that the services will be expanded to include fire prevention safety education and other services.”

To prepare for the expansion, Burn Prevention Network (BPN) tapped two other NEPA residents to support Terry’s efforts from the Board level.

Leo Woelkers, of Moscow, is Secretary of the BPN Board of Directors. Woelkers is a burn survivor and advocate. Fourteen years ago, Woelkers was working in an underground vault in Wilkes-Barre when an oil-filled electrical switch exploded, engulfing him in flames. Woelkers, who spent four months in a coma and another four months in a rehabilitation hospital, is a long-time BPN Board member and volunteer for Camp Susquehanna, Burn Prevention Network’s statewide camp for youth burn survivors that serves kids from NEPA.

Chief Chris DeNaples of the Dunmore Fire Department is a member of BPN’s board of directors. He is also a member of the board of directors for Emergency Medical Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chief Association. He previously served on BPN’s Fire and Emergency Services Committee. Chief DeNaples stated, “I am honored to be part of an amazing organization focusing on fire/burn prevention. Prevention is the best invention. If we can share awareness and provide education, we can reduce the number of injuries and deaths of our loved ones as well as empowering burn survivors.”

Burn Prevention Network is continuing to build relationships with area fire departments and funders to understand the unique challenges facing the Northeast PA region while committing to expanding our other prevention programs to the region. We just received a grant to offer the preschool program to the region in 2025. We are thankful for the reception we received in the region. Our expansion cannot happen without building strong relationships and trust with the philanthropic community of Northeast PA