On Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 9:00 AM, Los Angeles Firefighters quickly responded to a reported Structure Fire in Valley Glen. Upon making entry into an apartment unit, they found a kitchen fire that had already been extinguished. Unfortunately, an adult female suffered critical burns to her face, neck and arms while in the kitchen. When attempting to help, the victim's husband suffered moderate burn injuries to his hands.

The Los Angeles Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association would like to share some staggering statistics:

Each year approximately 3,000 Americans die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 are seen in our nation’s emergency rooms for burn injuries.

Burn injuries are commonly caused by flame, scalds or contact with a hot surface. Burns are painful and can result in serious disability, disfigurement - even death.

Most importantly, burns are preventable...

• Turn pot and pan handles away from the front of your stove, and use the rear burners when possible.
• Maintain a 3-foot 'kid-free' zone around your stove and wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
• Use extreme caution with items that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
• Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.

Sadly, today a woman is in the hospital fighting for her life. By using the tips above, you and your loved ones can greatly reduce the chance of receiving a serious burn injury.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - Kitchen Fire Critically Burns Woman In Valley Glen

Many people are surprised to learn that on average, 551 people are transported each day to hospitals in Los Angeles Fire Department ambulances.

And since you might also have wondered; the average transport time to a hospital via LAFD ambulance is a mere 8 minutes and 16 seconds. Please remember: not all patients are destined for the closest facility nor does every transport require the use of emergency lights and siren.

So where do all the patients go?

For April, May and June 2009, here are the Top 20 Hospital destinations for LAFD Ambulances...

1. California Hospital Medical Center - 51 transports per day
2. LAC / USC Medical Center - 38 transports per day
3. Centinela Hospital Medical Center - 30 transports per day
4. Good Samaritan Hospital - 30 transports per day
5. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - 23 transports per day
6. Northridge Hospital Medical Center - 22 transports per day
7. Queen of Angels / Hollywood Presbyterian - 21 transports per day
8. Valley Presbyterian Hospital - 17 transports per day
9. Kaiser West Los Angeles - 17 transports per day
10. Olympia Medical Center - 17 transports per day
11. Providence Holy Cross - 16 transports per day
12. Providence St. Joseph - 16 transports per day
13. West Hills Medical Center - 16 transports per day
14. Sherman Oaks Community - 15 transports per day
15. Harbor/UCLA Medical Center - 15 transports per day
16. Kaiser Panorama City - 14 transports per day
17. Providence Tarzana - 13 transports per day
18. Marina del Rey Hospital - 12 transports per day
19. Kaiser Woodland Hills - 11 transports per day
20. Brotman Medical Center - 11 transports per day

As you can see, members of the LAFD not only need to know the exact locations of the 106 Neighborhood Fire Stations across our 470 square-mile jurisdiction, but also the quickest routes - day and night - to dozens of hospitals in the Greater Los Angeles area.

You can help them in their quest by yielding promptly and safely for Fire Department vehicles traveling with their emergency lights and siren activated.

Better yet, you and your family can strive to be safe and healthy in your everyday life, limiting your likelihood of needing the world-class pre-hospital care provided by Los Angeles Firefighters.

And finally... we'd like to remind you that there is no need to be ill or injured to explore the inside of an LAFD ambulance. Simply stop by your Neighborhood Fire Station for a visit!


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

READ MORE - In Los Angeles, Where Do All The Sick People Go?