FILM REVIEW - RESERVOIRS OF STRENGTH: A Burn Recovery Film
Reprinted From:
JOURNAL OF APPLIED REHABILITATION COUNSELING
by MARTIN G. BRODWIN, Ph.D., C.R.C. Fall 1990 Issue.
Rehabilitation Counseling Education Program Coordinator, California
State University, L.A.
The purpose of this video is to familiarize the viewer with the
burn recovery process and to illustrate the strength severely burned
individuals have throughout the process and when re-entering society.
These goals are met and surpassed. Although about one specific disability,
the video can be generalized to all disabling conditions. Adjustment to
disability is illustrated very succinctly. It is a difficult slow process
that is not achieved by everyone recovering from disability. The ability
to make accommodations in one's lifestyle with the goal of achieving a "new
self" is aptly portrayed in this powerful presentation.
RESERVOIRS OF STRENGTH contains personal experiences of burn
survivors including interviews with them, their friends, and family.
Interviews are also conducted with the past president of the American Burn
Foundation, physicians, nurses, therapists, and an attorney. The
interviews provide not only important but an emotional dimension allowing
the viewer to realize the full impact of the recovery process.
There are approximately two million burns occurring every year.
One hundred thousand of these are serious enough for the person to see a
physician; ten thousand of these need to enter a burn center for extensive
treatment. The majority of burns (70%) occur in the home, most often in
the kitchen. This is important information for all of us to know, both
from a professional standpoint and from a personal one. As a general rule,
a person will spend one day in the hospital for every one percent of the
body burned, i.e. a person with a forty percent burn will spend about forty
days in the hospital.
The video takes us into a burn center showing treatment of a
patient recently brought into the emergency room. The scene is well
presented and does not dwell on difficult to observe material. This is
true for the entire video.
The section called "What makes patients get better" describes the
unique multi-disciplinary approach involving treatment team members, the
patient, and the family. The closeness of the family and patient to the
treatment team is highlighted. Patient's emotional, spiritual, and
physical needs are treated in a holistic way.
Patients speak of their fear of loss of independence, their fear of
re-entering society, and their fear of being in public. The video
emphasizes the importance of changing society's perceptions of burn
survivors.
This video was filmed at several major burn centers including: The
Total Image Center and School Re-Entry Program, Rancho Los Amigos Medical
Center (Downey, California); the University of South Florida Burn Services
(Tampa, Florida); Harborview Medical Center (Seattle, Washington); the Burn
Center of Southern California-Sherman Oaks Community Hospital (Sherman
Oaks, California); Tampa General Hospital (Tampa, Florida); and other
locations.
Aside from the outstanding content, the film has excellent
technical production in terms of sound, music, and visualization.
RESERVOIRS OF STRENGTH is recommended for all rehabilitationists.
The film portrays psycho-social aspects of rehabilitation in a more
articulate way than any other film, book, or resource I have seen. Its
principles apply to all disability groups. It should be included in all
undergraduate and graduate rehabilitation counselor education programs.