Overview
- Federal health data shows 704 burn patients in early 2026 in Baja California, up from 557 in the same 2025 period, which equals about 70 people treated each week.
- With many victims being minors, Hospital Shriners A.C. is offering free consultations for children with burns or orthopedic needs at Tijuana’s city hall on the first Monday of each month.
- Shriners covers medical care, transfers and all paperwork at no cost for patients up to 17 years old, and it can secure U.S. visas for treatment when doctors recommend it.
- Hospitals in Tijuana provide first aid and some treatment, but severe cases are often sent to Monterrey, Mexico City or the United States because the region lacks a public burn center.
- Shriners reports helping about 40 to 45 children with burns in 2025, often referred by the General Hospital of Tijuana and IMSS, and staff link many pediatric cases to fireworks during holiday periods.