Today we got to explore the Birmingham City University, also known as BCU, campus where we will be studying over the course of this study abroad trip. To get there we took a double decker bus, it was mostly everyone’s first time on one. We all sat on the second floor to get the full experience. I was able to sit right up front and see everything as we drove to our stop. I noticed there is a lot of greenery around the city. There were many older brick buildings that were beautiful as well. We first went to Birmingham City University’s main campus and then went to the south campus. At the main campus we met Chinenye Anetekhai who is head of international nursing here and is a specialist in burns and wounds. She introduced herself and had us introduce ourselves as well. She is from Nigeria which is where she got her degree in nursing from. When she moved to the United Kingdom she did not need additional training, but did need to take tests to practice nursing here. She said that as an educator she is honored that adults trust her with their children and that adults themselves trust her to educate them. She feels that as an educator you can touch so many people’s lives. I enjoyed hearing what all the nursing students on the trip are planning on specializing in. Chinenye is extremely passionate about her speciality in burns. After this we were able to tour around the campus. It’s very modern and is colorful with many windows letting natural light in.

Students are still on campus, because their schooling is year round and they don’t get as long a summer break as students in the US do. It seemed like there were a decent amount of students currently taking or preparing for exams. After touring around the main campus we walked to another bus stop and went to the south campus where we will be this week. There we had our first lecture. The lecture was about burns, Chinenye’s speciality. About 11 million people worldwide seek medical help for burns annually. Burn injuries are most prevalent in Africa and Asia. This is the leading cause of modern disability in those areas. It often happens in low-income households, with 70% making up the cases. There’s various types of burns such as flame, scald, contact, radiation, chemical, electrical, and friction. Flame is most common for adults, while scald is most common for children. Children will often grab at cups with hot liquid like tea or coffee in them. It also often takes place in homes from hot fluids to hair straighteners and other things. Burns are high-impact, low-incidence injuries with life long consequences. However, it is preventable. Prevention can start with awareness and education. There is the National Burn week in the US which is in February, this is different from the UK Burn day which is a day in October. There is also the World Burn Week in the second week of November. This can help spread awareness and prevent burn injuries. 

Schools have made certain steps to prevent burn injuries such as “stop, drop, and roll,” a phrase repeated throughout many people’s childhood as a way to remember what to do in case of a fire. There are also fire drills, which include the fire alarm and how to safely exit the building. This begins as early as preschool. It is important for children to be aware and know what to do. Parents and teachers should avoid making this something to be fearful of, but also not just a “game.” Chinenye has a foundation that helps schools in Nigeria educate children on burn safety. This also helps prevent misinformation and the spread of it. Some people put raw eggs, lotion, butter, toothpaste, ice, and frozen peas. These “remedies” are commonly passed down through generations and sound appealing, because it could help cool down the burn. However, all of these can cause infection. The first thing anyone with a burn should do is run tap or shower water over the burn. This should be for the first twenty minutes and only be covering the burn area, because it’s important for the person to stay warm. This will have numerous benefits such as faster healing, less severe burns and scarring. Burns can cause scarring, both physically and mentally, however educators can help prevent these injuries and scars. Teaching children about burns can be covered in varying depth based on their grade level, but can include prevention, treatment, and more to make a change.