The emotional and social challenges that can be felt by a patient and/or their loved ones can unfold at any point after a burn injury. Our burn center offers many options for support.
Peer Support Available at UW Health
The UW Health Burn Center has an active Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery (SOAR) program. SOAR is a peer support program. SOAR connects you with a burn survivor and/or a family member.
According to the Phoenix Society, it is meant to “assist individuals in coping with and adapting to a burn injury through the exchange of shared experiences and emotional support between a survivor and a trained peer supporter.” Some topics are best discussed with someone who has firsthand, personal experience. Topics might include social comfort, relationships, intimacy and sexuality, reintegration, and life satisfaction.
SOAR is an option for patients and their loved ones while receiving care at UW hospital and the UW Health Burn Clinic. The SOAR coordinators help match a peer support volunteer with you. If you are interested in this, please contact SOAR coordinator at vwelsh@uwhealth.org.
Phone/Internet Access
If you do not have access to phone or internet, go to any fire station in the state of Wisconsin to gain free access.
Other Resources
Understanding and Improving Body Image
Support programs offered by the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation
Phoenix Society Resources
Beyond Surviving: Tools for Social Empowerment
Tools for Redeveloping Social Skills as a Burn Survivor