By registering for, attending, or otherwise participating in an in-person meeting or event organized by the American Burn Association (ABA), you agree to these Terms and Conditions and any event-specific policies provided during registration.
1. General
These Terms and Conditions apply to all event participants, including attendees, guests, speakers, moderators, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, contractors, service providers, and ABA staff. ABA may interpret and enforce these terms and may update them when reasonably necessary. If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
The views expressed by participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of ABA. Participants are responsible for the content of their presentations, exhibits, marketing materials, statements, and other communications. Participation does not imply ABA endorsement of any person, product, service, organization, or viewpoint.
2. Registration, Credentials, and Event Changes
Registration credentials and badges are issued to the registered participant, are nontransferable unless ABA approves a substitution, and must not be shared. Participants may be required to display their badge in event areas. Registration, cancellation, substitution, payment, and refund requirements are governed by the policies presented for the applicable event.
ABA may adjust the program, speakers, schedule, format, venue, or other event details when circumstances reasonably require. ABA may postpone, relocate, modify, or cancel an event because of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including severe weather, public health concerns, government action, labor disruption, transportation interruption, venue unavailability, security concerns, or other emergencies. Any available remedies will be governed by the applicable event registration and cancellation policies.
3. Code of Conduct
ABA is committed to a professional, safe, respectful, accessible, and welcoming environment. Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, threats, and disruptive conduct are not permitted. This policy applies in meeting rooms, exhibit and social spaces, hotels and venues used for ABA activities, transportation arranged by ABA, and other event-related interactions.
Expected behavior
Treat others with professionalism, courtesy, and respect, including when viewpoints differ.
Communicate constructively and remain mindful of the impact of your words and actions.
Follow event, venue, safety, accessibility, and staff instructions.
Respect personal boundaries, confidentiality, intellectual property, and requests not to be photographed or recorded when such requests are communicated.
Unacceptable behavior
Harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Unwelcome sexual attention, sexualized comments or imagery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, bullying, threats, or unwanted physical contact.
Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern, reports conduct, participates in a review, or supports another participant in doing so.
Sustained or intentional disruption of sessions, exhibits, meetings, or other event activities.
Abusive, threatening, obscene, or demeaning language, gestures, clothing, displays, or materials inconsistent with a professional meeting environment.
Possession of weapons or items intended to be used as weapons, except as expressly permitted by applicable law and venue policy.
Possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs; unsafe or disruptive behavior related to alcohol or other substances; or providing alcohol to a person under the legal drinking age.
Theft, property damage, unauthorized access to restricted areas, or other unlawful activity.
Reporting and enforcement
Anyone who experiences or witnesses conduct that may violate this policy should promptly notify ABA staff onsite or email info@ameriburn.org. If there is an immediate threat or emergency, contact venue security or local emergency services first. ABA will review concerns as promptly and discreetly as reasonably possible, but confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
ABA may take action it considers appropriate based on the circumstances, including a warning, removal from a session or event, cancellation of registration without refund, removal of exhibit or sponsorship privileges, restriction from future ABA activities, or referral to venue security or law enforcement. ABA prohibits retaliation related to a good-faith report or participation in a review.
4. Professional and Political Activity
Respectful discussion of public policy, advocacy, and other issues relevant to burn care may occur as part of the educational program. Participants may express personal viewpoints but must not imply that ABA endorses a candidate, political party, campaign, ballot initiative, product, service, or outside organization unless ABA has expressly authorized that representation.
Campaigning, partisan fundraising, distribution of campaign materials, unauthorized solicitation, demonstrations that disrupt event activities, and use of ABA event space or attendee information for political or commercial purposes are prohibited unless expressly approved in writing by ABA. This provision is intended to protect the educational purpose of the meeting and ABA's obligations as a tax-exempt organization; it does not prohibit respectful personal conversation that does not disrupt the event.
5. Communicable Illness and Public Health
Participation in public gatherings involves a risk of exposure to communicable illnesses, including respiratory viruses such as influenza and COVID-19. Participants should monitor their health, follow applicable public health guidance and event or venue requirements, and avoid attending when they may be contagious. A participant who becomes ill or develops symptoms during an event should leave shared event spaces and seek appropriate medical guidance.
ABA may implement reasonable health and safety measures or modify event operations in response to current conditions, government requirements, venue rules, or public health guidance. Participants are responsible for reviewing event communications and complying with measures in effect at the time of the event.
6. Accessibility and Accommodations
ABA seeks to provide an accessible event experience. Participants who need a disability-related accommodation or auxiliary aid should contact ABA by the deadline stated in the event materials, when possible, so arrangements can be made. ABA will consider requests consistent with applicable law and available resources. Service animals are permitted as required by applicable law and must remain under the handler's control.
7. Photography, Recording, and Event Content
ABA or its authorized representatives may photograph, audio-record, or video-record event activities. By participating, you grant ABA permission to use your image, voice, name, statements, and likeness captured in event recordings or photographs for educational, archival, informational, and promotional purposes, in any media, without compensation, unless prohibited by law. ABA will honor a documented opt-out process if one is offered for the applicable event.
Participants may not record, livestream, reproduce, distribute, or commercially use presentations, slides, posters, conversations, or other event content without authorization from ABA and the applicable rights holder. Personal photography may be limited in certain sessions or areas. Participants must follow posted restrictions and respect requests from individuals who do not wish to be photographed or recorded.
8. Lead Retrieval and Exhibitor Communications
Allowing an exhibitor or sponsor to scan your badge is voluntary. By permitting a scan, you authorize ABA to provide the contact information associated with your badge to that organization so it may follow up with you during or after the event. The organization will handle your information under its own privacy practices, and requests to stop its communications must be directed to that organization. You are not required to have your badge scanned.
9. Data Privacy
ABA collects and uses registration and participation information to administer the event, process transactions, provide event services and communications, support safety and security, analyze and improve programs, and fulfill other purposes described at the time of collection. ABA may share information with service providers and event partners as reasonably necessary for those purposes and as described in ABA's Privacy Policy. Information shared voluntarily with an exhibitor, sponsor, attendee, or other third party is subject to that party's privacy practices.
For more information about ABA's data practices and available privacy rights, review ABA's Privacy Policy.
10. Assumption of Risk and Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, participants voluntarily assume the ordinary risks associated with travel to and participation in an in-person event, including risks of illness, personal injury, loss, theft, or damage to personal property. Participants are responsible for safeguarding their belongings and for obtaining any travel, health, or other insurance they consider appropriate.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ABA and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and contractors, and affiliates will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from participation in or inability to attend an event. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
11. Questions
Questions about these Terms and Conditions may be directed to info@ameriburn.org.