West Penn Burn Center

12/13/2025

Stay Safe this year! Here are some holiday/winter safety tips.

12/13/2025

With the weather turning colder and snow in the forecast, West Penn Hospital's Burn Center would like to share these prevention tips and treatment of frostbite and hypothermia. Stay safe and warm.

11/22/2025

West Penn Hospital Burn Center would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

10/05/2025

This past week was the annual IAFF International Burn Camp/leadership Summit. Camp KOALA sent John Beighel and Linda Leonard (camp director). Both had an awesome experience. John made new friends and learned how to become a leader. Linda networked with other camps and returned with new ideas for future Camp KOALAs! Camp KOALA 2026 will our 40th camp!
https://www.iaff.org/news/teen-burn-survivors-tour-washington-d-c-at-iaff-international-burn-camp/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNPkUJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6TGN3UmlkS1QxNDNIWnY0AR6KT8PVRfopnM2164jHcCJcsex3iH_ueR0N4PWmh5JZaPF_zdW5FMibIg36Dw_aem_RpktIjRF-rAejw_dR73l4w

09/27/2025

This past summer The Burn Center had to say "Goodbye" to our Director, Dr Aballay. Dr Aballay came to West Penn as a surgical resident, returned as a surgeon and then became Director. Dr Aballay has always been a staunch supporter of the staff, Camp KOALA and Burn Concern. He was extremely supportive of the certification of Burn Nurses process. He will be missed and we hope all the best for him in his future endeavors,

07/02/2025

Please stay safe this weekend (and every weekend!) https://triblive.com/local/regional/how-to-avoid-fireworks-injuries-this-july-4th-weekend/?

The Fourth of July weekend brings a surge of cookouts, fireworks and celebrations — and with it, a busy stretch for fire safety and health officials preparing for the holiday’s potential hazards. Brad James, fire chief at Eureka Fire Rescue in Tarentum, said the holiday weekend tends to....

07/01/2025

This Fourth of July, Please be safe!!!

Fireworks Safety Tips
Use the following safety tips to keep your fireworks celebrations safe and fun:
1. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. Instead, consider safe alternatives, such as glow sticks, silly string, popping streamers and confetti cannons.
2. Always supervise children, including when using sparklers. Sparklers can cause a serious burn as they reach temperatures of about 2,000°
3. Avoid purchasing fireworks that are packaged in brown paper. This often indicates the devices are made for professional displays, and therefore, could pose a danger to consumers.
4. Light fireworks one at a time.
5. Don’t twist fuses together as this can become very dangerous.
6. Don’t place any part of your body directly over a firework device.
7. Maintain a safe distance after you light fireworks.
8. Keep a bucket of water, garden hose or fire extinguisher nearby. These are a safety precaution in case of fire mishaps.
9. Never shoot fireworks off in metal or glass containers.
10. Avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket, as well.
11. Don’t try to re-light or pick up fireworks that haven’t ignited fully. It could go off while attempting to relight it, causing serious injury.
12. Wear hearing protection when participating in firework activities. Fireworks can exceed 150 decibels and cause immediate hearing damage.
and most important:
Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

06/21/2025

There is a major heat wave hitting the Pittsburgh Area.. Please be careful out there! Sunscreen with SPF 30 or above (We recommend 50 or above to burn survivors)and stay hydrated!

06/16/2025

West Penn Burn Center sponsored our annual Camp KOALA (Kids Overcoming, Adapting, Learning and Achieving) last week. More photos to follow but the Post Gazette visited camp and publicized this story:
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2025/06/16/camp-burn-victims-kon-o-kwee-allegheny-health/stories/202506090056?fbclid=IwY2xjawK9jMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFMSmhlUkhtbHhpaFE2NXFMAR5WjribR4qp7-hgnp7xeQUBjNmh1sUbaBiHLriDkp5hABmgQ12d_vWJVdV_QQ_aem_WLMyTrksw59xkKkAQkwNHg

More than just a getaway, Allegheny Health Network West Penn Burn Center’s five-day immersive experience at Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer in Fombell offers a safe, supportive space where many kids say they’ve begun to heal mentally and physically from the trauma of their injuries.  

05/23/2025

This summer, West Penn Burn Center would like you stay safe. Here are some burn/fire safety tips for you.

05/21/2025

On May 12, the "Balls of Fire" Memorial Golf Outing was held at the Wildwood Golf Club. Balls of Fire is a memorial golf fundraiser in honor of volunteer firefighter Dan Stack. It benefits Camp KOALA,(Kids Overcoming, Adapting, Learning and Achieving) a free five-day summer camp for children in the region who have suffered burn injuries. This year camp will be held June 7-11.
Thank you very much for your generosity!

04/26/2025

Staff from the Outpatient Burn Clinic participated in outreach Friday, April 25! They were at the West Mifflin Area second annual Color Fun Run. They provided ducks to check bath water temperature to participants.