By Brian Sargent
The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Children can use stuffed animals to comfort themselves when they’re scared. The toys also are valuable to paramedics, who use them as diagnostic tools.
Tuesday, two dozen prekindergarten students from New Hope United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City donated about 60 stuffed animals to the Emergency Medical Services Authority. The furry toys will be kept on ambulances and used at emergency scenes.
Paramedics use the animals to calm a child who is injured, scared or traumatized, EMSA spokeswoman Lara O’Leary said. More importantly, animals can help children communicate their injuries.
“A lot of times at car crashes or scenes where children are scared, they are unable to talk,” said O’Leary. “With the animals, paramedics will have the children point on the animal where they are hurting.
“Children who are scared need something to cling to, and to have these on the truck is invaluable to us. We absolutely have to have them. What we will do with them will possibly save lives,” she said.
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