Wantagh Students Learn the Importance of Safety

Teddy bears and other beloved stuffed animals accompanied Forest Lake Elementary School kindergarten students in Wantagh during a Teddy Bear Clinic. Hosted by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Trauma Center, the goal was to help students learn to become their own safety experts on a bicycle and in the car.

According to SBCH, trauma is the leading cause of death among children under 17 and can be preventable in most cases.

SBU Trauma Center Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator Kristi Ladowski told students, “It is up to you to keep your own bodies safe and to become safety experts.”

During the program, the students listened to safety tips, including wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle and wearing a seatbelt in the car. They also learned that the back seat is safest for children. After the educational portion of the program, the students dressed like doctors and nurses, bandaged up their teddy bears and stuffed animals and filled out a hospital file.

Photo: Wantagh School District