Firefighters raise R30000 for hospital’s burns unit

THIRTY-ONE of the 95 people who died in fires between January and last month were children.

This was one of the reasons firefighters from the city’s Fire and Rescue Services decided to raise money to donate to the children most at need at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital’s burns unit.

Yesterday, the firefighters donated R30 000 in an official handover by Fire and Rescue Services spokesman, Theo Layne and mayco member of Safety and Security, JP Smith.

The partnership between the firefighters and the hospital started in 2011 and has seen an increase in donations with the firefighters reaching a new goal this year, up from last year’s R25 000.

“The funds raised are specifically for the burns unit as we mostly deal with patients who have been affected by fires,” said Layne. He added the funds were to help rehabilitate patients and restore them to health.

“This is our way of giving back to the communities we serve and the fact the children that come to this hospital come from various backgrounds makes it even better.”

Their ball, which is held every December, was accompanied by a firefighters calendar which unfortunately did not sell as expected.

“They also visit the children and spend a day with them, taking them on rides in the fire engines. I suppose you can’t save every child from a fire, but what they try to do is help prevent them from the fires and help with their rehabilitation,” said Smith.

Director of the friends of the children’s hospital, David Stephens, said they were pleased to receive these annual donations. “The friends of the children’s hospital has existed for over 38 years and we provide non-medical support to the patients and their families while they are here at the hospital.”

He said the money helped the children have more fun in hospital which decreased their anxiety levels. They also used the money to provide meals, clothing, toiletries, education and training, travel costs and food parcels.