Boy Recovers After Sparkler Burns Put Him in Hospital

A 9-year-old boy, Santiago Claudio, is nearing release from HCA Florida Kendall Hospital after a severe burn incident on January 1st. He sustained second- and third-degree burns across approximately 18% of his body when a sparkler ignited his T-shirt while he was playing in the backyard.

Santiago has undergone several surgeries, including skin grafts, and requires close monitoring for infection. Vitini Rammin, director of the Trauma and Burn Program, noted that such injuries often involve extensive hospital stays. The family's experience serves as a critical warning ahead of National Burn Awareness Week, with hospital officials reporting over 100 pediatric burn cases last year and stressing the risks of fireworks and sparklers with unsupervised children.