ABOUT EFBTS

The Firefighters Burn Treatment Society, Edmonton Chapter, was founded in 1977 by local Edmonton Fire Rescue Members Joe Hudson, Greg Stelmer, Jim Flannagan, Paul L'Heaureux, Merle Schness, Otto Kruger, Jack Vigsbol and Ken Edmonton. These volunteers saw a need to bring a burn treatment unit to Edmonton and worked tirelessly to have this vision come true. With out standing up to the Shriners and advocating to be the ones to bring a burn treatment unit to Edmonton, the Edmonton Firefighters Burn Treatment Unit at the U of A Hospital would not exist and be the facility it is today.

EFBTS is managed and supported by local firefighters who volunteer and dedicate their time to raise funds to improve the treatment and care of those who have sustained a thermal injury. The Firefighters Burn Treatment Society has essentially no overhead or administrative costs. At the conclusion of our annual year long campaign, ending December 31st; all funds received are presented to the Firefighters Burn Treatment Unit at The University of Alberta Hospital at our Annual General Meeting and Luncheon held each spring. EFBTS designates that the funds are be used to support burn research, treatment and recovery. This includes the purchase of new and specialized equipment, ensuring enhanced patient care. It allows for the continuing education of burn unit staff to remain current and share new treatment techniques. We also designated funds to the support The Alberta Fire Fighters Burn Camp.

Since its incorporation in 1977, the EFBTS has donated close to $13 million to the University Hospital Foundation, including gifts-in-kind. Over the last 10 years, the Edmonton Firefighters Burn Treatment Society (EFBTS) has donated over $2.5 million to the University Hospital Foundation in support of the University of Alberta Hospital’s Edmonton Firefighters’ Burn Treatment Unit, regarded as one of the best in Canada.