"Learn not to Burn ": PSA - Public Service Announcement & Children's Book on Burn Prevention

In Cambodia there are an estimated 20 000 burn injuries and 2000 burn deaths annually, two-thirds of the burns occur to children under the age of ten. The Office of International Surgery has been working in Cambodia since 2000 with the Children's Surgical Centre in Phnom Pehn. After the successful implementation of the burn prevention project, we received funding from the Australian and British Embassies to create burn prevention public service announcements to be aired on Cambodian television.

Video format was chosen as the most effective medium due to the popularity of television among Cambodian children. Examination of hospital records revealed common burn scenarios such as open flame burns, cooking burns, mosquito-net burns and petrol burns. The videos were produced in Khmer language, appropriate for children ages 8 - 12 and used local resources and talent.

The total cost of the production was US$14 000. The Cambodian Royal Family provided their Royal Blessing for the project and gave a cash donation of US$2 000 to cover the cost of broadcasting the messages for the first month.

The video began it's first broadcast on Cambodian television in October 2005. We will also create a children's book containing expanded versions of the stories in the video's and distribute 10 000 copies of the book to 600 schools in Cambodia.

View the "Learn not to Burn" Video here.

The “Learn not to Burn” videos were written and produced by Mr Andrew Mizen.