Students of William Rall Tend to Their Teddies

From Syntax: Dressed as little doctors, kindergarten students of William Rall Elementary School in the Lindenhurst Union Free School District learned about helmet and seatbelt safety from a representative of the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital during a Teddy Bear Clinic.

Trauma Program Manager and nurse Jane McCormack spoke about general safety rules and demonstrated the importance of wearing a helmet by allowing young students to drop two bags, containing uncooked eggs, onto the hard floor. One of the eggs was secured with a small helmet protecting it and thus illustrating an important point. “Helmets protect your brain,” said Ms. McCormack. “It is your job to keep your body safe and a helmet is a very good way to do that.”

Students were then able to demonstrate their newly explored understanding while caring for their own teddy bears. The little doctors completed “patient care forms” in which they recorded their stuffed animal’s “injuries” and the necessary course of treatment employed, including a set number of daily hugs for Teddy.

Photo Caption: Dressed as little doctors, kindergarten students of William Rall Elementary School in the Lindenhurst Union Free School District learned about helmet and seatbelt safety from a representative of the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital during a Teddy Bear Clinic.

Photo courtesy of Lindenhurst Union Free School District