Kindergarten Students Participate in Teddy Bear Clinic

Roanoke Avenue Elementary School Kindergarten students recently participated in a Teddy Bear Clinic presented by Kristi Ladowski, MPH, an Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator from the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

During the event, Ladowski stressed to the kindergartners the importance of Buckling Up whenever they get into the car, no matter how short the trip.

She underlined the importance of using car seats and/or booster seats for children 8 years old and under.

The booster seats help raise kids up so seat belts fit safely.

She also emphasized the “BACK is where it’s at!” which explains that the safest place for all children is the back seat until they reach age 13.

Air bags were designed to protect adults and can be dangerous for kids.

Using a helmet designed to resemble the human brain, Ladowski also talked about the importance of wearing a helmet while skating, snowboarding, skiing, riding a bicycle, or playing many sports.

Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85% according the statistics presented by Stony Brook Trauma Center.

The students watched as two of their classmates used an egg in a baggie to demonstrate the difference a helmet (even for an egg) makes in keeping the head/brain safe.

The final part of the presentation, the children donned surgical masks and gloves and went to work on treating their teddy bears.

They taped up noses, tummies, arms, wrists and legs.

This part of the program was designed to help ease possible fears the children might have about visiting a doctor’s office or going to a hospital.

Finally, just like a real doctor the kids had to do their medical paperwork explaining what the injury was, how it occurred and how they as the doctor or nurse treated it.

Photo courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

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