Sick and injured stuffed bears help alleviate kids’ fears of going to the hospital and doctor
More than 100 kindergartners from the KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy helped treat stuffed bears suffering from sore paws, painful ears, torn fur and shortness of breath today during Cooper University Health Care’s second annual Teddy Goes to Cooper event. Bears were also able to receive any immunizations they might need for school.
The Teddy Goes to Cooper program was developed to help alleviate young children’s fears of visiting the hospital or doctor and common medical procedures. The event is free, and is a joint effort among Cooper University Health Care Community Outreach, Cooper Emergency Medical Services, and the Cooper Foundation.
When children arrived to Cooper University Hospital, they were given a special t-shirt and a teddy bear in need of medical care. The kids then rotated through five different stations where Cooper clinicians and medical students taught them about diagnosing and treating the bear’s ailment using real tools and equipment. They learned about being healthy, staying safe and preventing injuries. The students also had the opportunity to tour an ambulance.
See more photos from today’s event on Flickr by clicking here.