ABSTRACT
The initial response of most individuals upon seeing a survivor of major burn injury is one of shock, followed by sympathy, and wondering how patients can live after their burns heal. Because even small burns can cause considerable disfigurement, the reactions of people who are nave to burn sequelae are, after shock, to be curious and, being sympathetic, to feel reluctant to query the burn survivor. If caught staring, they feel awkward and at a loss for words. They look away, avoid eye contact, and pretend that they never noticed; or they ask questions of a nonbumed person who is in the company of the bum survivor, as if the survivor can neither hear nor answer questions.
