CSC Scania Burn Clinic

Bryan Kozak, son of Elks Lodge #810 member, Bill Kozak, is currently serving as a physician’s assistant with the army in Iraq. Besides tending to the needs of a battalion of soldiers from the 82^nd Airborne, 3-73 Cavalry, he and other medical personnel run a clinic which treats Iraqi children burned in domestic accidents. The CSC Scania Burn Clinic is the only one run by the coalition forces that provides care directly to the Iraqi people. The clinic is staffed by US Army medical providers and medics but can only use donated supplies.

The clinic exclusively treats patients under 19 years old who have sustained severe, potentially life-threatening burns from domestic accidents. Primitive heating and cooking devices such as kerosene heaters, kerosene clay pot stoves and ovens, and open fire pits routinely fail causing catastrophic burns to people who are close by. Preventing accidents by keeping children away from the fires is not possible since many families live in one-room houses where warm blankets are considered a luxury.

As previously mentioned, 100% of the supplies needed to treat these children are donated by the American public.  It is through their generosity that this clinic has been able to treat over 7,000 patients during the past three years. The following three items are the most critical and frequently used at the burn clinic:

•         Medi-honey Anti-Bacterial Cream

•         Kerlix

•         Xeroform Petroleum Dressings

Other medical items - just as necessary but used less frequently - include:

•         Non-adhesive dressings

•         Chucks

•         Tylenol (Child, Infant and Adult)

•         Motrin (Child, Infant and Adult)

•         IV Line sets

•         Benadryl (Child and Adult)

•         Saline Locks

•         4x4 gauze and sponges

•         Bacitracin Ointment

•         Lidocaine Jelly

•         5ml Syringes/Needles

•         Exam Gloves

•         Tape

Furthermore, many of the children (and the family members that bring them in) are barefoot, threadbare and malnourished. The clinic also provides the victims and their families with:

•         Flip-flops/sandals

•         Old Sneakers

•         Old Clothes

•         Socks

•         Toothbrushes

•         Toothpaste

•         Children's multi-vitamins

•         Soccer balls

•         Toys

•         Stuffed Animals

•         Crayons and Coloring Books (non-religious) 

The CSC Scania Burn Clinic provides critical burn treatment, humanitarian needs, compassion, and hope for thousands of “innocent victims”. This effort promotes good-will and improves their quality of life by fighting infection, minimizing scarring, and combating poverty, one patient at a time.

At the meeting on October 25, the lodge voted to support this program. A box has been set up in the lobby for donations of the supplies listed above. If you wish to make a monetary donation, it will be used to purchase medical supplies to be sent to the clinic. The troops that staff the clinic thank you for your generosity as well as thoughts and prayers for everyone involved in the operation to help these innocent victims.

Bill Kozak (for Cap. Bryan Kozak, US Army, 82 Airborne, 3-73 Cavalry)