Teddy Bear Clinic is back again at Roanoke Elementary
Teddy bears will become patients once again on Friday as Roanoke Avenue Elementary School hosts its annual Teddy Bear Clinic.
Last year, the students participated in the clinic — led by Kristi Ladowski, MPH, an Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator from the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital — designed to teach kindergarteners important safety tips.
Ms. Ladowski invited children to bandage teddy bear noses, stomachs, arms, wrists and legs while wearing surgical masks and gloves like doctors do. Ms. Ladowski also had the children complete paperwork explaining how the injury occurred and how they treated it. That way, children might not be so scared about have to visit doctors offices and hospitals.
She also shared important safety messages for students to think about when in cars and riding bicycles, including the importance of buckling up during car rides — no matter how short the ride — and keeping children in car seats or booster seats until they’re eight years old.
Ms. Ladowski will also suggest keeping children out of the front passenger seat until they’re at least 13 since airbags, which are designed for adults and can be dangerous to small children.
Teddy Bear Clinics will be held at various times throughout the day in the different classes.
Photo Caption: Students participating in events during last year’s Teddy Bear Clinic. (Credit: Courtesy)
