Trauma Bears Join Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service, Nov 2007

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More distressed children at the scene of road traffic collisions and other incidents across Kilkenny are set to be comforted and relaxed - thanks to a new initiative of special trauma teddies to be used by Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service. All front-line fire tenders in Kilkenny now have access to a unique piece of equipment which could reduce the suffering of children at operational incidents - a Trauma Teddy Bear!

The Trauma BearsThe Launch of The Trauma Bears

Over 100 cuddly teddy bears have become part of the team, assigned to a very important task. The bears ride on every frontline fire tender in Kilkenny. The Teddy's are part of an initiative to help children during traumatic emergency situations.

"Our mission is simple, but very worthwhile - To help bring a smile to a child's face" stated SO Eamon Doyle.

The intention is primarily to reduce the suffering of children at incidents and to help children cope with the stress that they feel from their involvement in a traumatic event. When children are involved in emergencies, it can be a traumatic experience for them. In order to soften the impact that an emergency may have on our children we have implemented this new "Trauma Bear" initiative. We hope to change their focus to a comforting object during a difficult situation.

Co-ordinating this initiative is Killian John Hennessy, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service. We hope that situations in which we will utilise these bears will be few, but we are pleased to be prepared to make a difference in the lives of our children.

SACFO Hennessy said: "The children may not necessarily be injured; it may be that they are witnesses to an incident that causes distress. It is often hard to predict how drivers, passengers or pedestrians will cope with being involved in road traffic collisions and children are particularly affected. We want to do all that we can to alleviate the distress caused by collisions on our roads. The trauma bears will also be used to assist fire & rescue personnel in any situation where they may calm children and assist fire & rescue personnel in their duties. The Trauma Bear will be given to the child to keep. To ensure their maximum effectiveness they will be used only in exceptional circumstances, the teddy bears may not be given out at every incident but they will be deployed where the fire & rescue personnel considers it to be appropriate. The trauma teddies we hope will be very helpful and the teddies have been greatly appreciated by those children who have already adopted and benefited from them."

The cute teddy bears - called Bravo Bear - were handed over first to Station Officer Joe Traynor of Kilkenny City (KK11) and Station Officer Eamon Doyle of Graiguenamanagh (KK17) on Friday 28th September 2007 at 14.00 pm at Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters. The remaining 'Bravo Bears' have been sent to the rest of the brigade stations in the county.

"The teddy bears will play an invaluable role in comforting, calming and relaxing traumatised children in road traffic collisions and other incidents." SO Joe Traynor concluded.

Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service are funding this initiative through their own limited funds, if you or your company would like to sponsor some trauma bears to help sustain this new initiative assistance would be gratefully received.

CONTACT:
Killian John Hennessy,
Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer,
Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service,
Fire Service Headquarters,
Gaol road,
Kilkenny.
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