Reed highlights new law about burn injuries

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Rhode Island’s senior U.S. senator is highlighting passage of a new law that modernizes the legal federal definition of “trauma” to include burn injuries.

Sen. Jack Reed toured the Trauma Division and Burn Center at Rhode Island Hospital Friday. He then joined first responders, doctors, burn care experts and leaders from the American College of Surgeons to talk about the law recently signed by President Barack Obama.                

Reed wrote the Trauma Care Act. He says including burn injuries will help ensure burn centers are eligible for federal trauma care programs and federal funding.                   

Rhode Island Hospital is the area’s only Level I Trauma Center.

Reed says he is working on a new bill to provide federal grants to states to develop trauma care systems.   

© The Associated Press/WLNE-TV 2014