In recognition of leadership in fire safety and burn prevention, Camp I Am Me has been awarded the prestigious Burn Prevention Award from the American Burn Association. This honor celebrates the organization’s, and partner Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, measurable impact in reducing burn injuries, specifically through its innovative and far-reaching Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program.
The Burn Prevention Award is one of the highest distinctions presented by the American Burn Association (ABA), a leading organization dedicated to burn care, research, education, and prevention across the United States. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate meaningful, measurable success in burn injury prevention, with an emphasis on strong community partnerships and effective public education initiatives.
At the Annual Meeting in April 2026, the ABA specifically highlighted Camp I Am Me’s work, underscoring the organization’s commitment to prevention, survivor support, and community impact.
At the heart of this recognition is the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program, a statewide initiative that has transformed fire safety across Illinois.
Launched in partnership with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, the program provides:
- Free smoke alarms with 10-year sealed batteries
- Fire safety education materials
- Installation services delivered by local fire departments
Fire departments across Illinois use these resources to reach at-risk households, ensuring homes are equipped with working smoke alarms and residents are educated on fire prevention and escape planning.
Since its inception in 2018, the program has distributed more than 52,000 smoke alarms and built a network of hundreds of participating Illinois fire departments, directly improving safety for families across the state.
While this honor highlights prevention, it also reflects the broader mission of Camp I Am Me. Since 1989, the organization has provided year-round support programs for burn survivors and their families, offering healing, confidence-building, and community connection.
The Be Alarmed! program represents a natural extension of that mission: not only supporting those impacted by burn injuries but working tirelessly to prevent them from happening in the first place.
This award belongs not only to Camp I Am Me, but also to the vast network of fire departments, community partners, volunteers, and public safety leaders.
Together, they have turned a simple concept of installing smoke alarms into a statewide movement that saves lives every day.