Abrazo Health nurses deliver teddy bears along with health and safety messages

What do you do when someone tries to lure you into their car with a teddy bear or a real dog or puppy and you don’t know their name? If you’re a kindergartner at Maryland School in Phoenix, you now know the answer. Run away, shout, find another adult and/or call 9-1-1.

Those are just some of the messages delivered to the classrooms May 13, along with adorable teddy bears, medical supplies like band aids, stethoscopes, gauze bandages and of course, new syringes filled with M&M’s.

“We teach the kids how to spot a stroke if Mom or Dad is showing signs or symptoms, how to recognize stranger danger, how and when to dial 9-1-1, and even how to apply band aids and bandages. They have so much fun and they really respond to our messages. Plus, they get to keep the teddy bears,” said Lisa Salway RN BSN CEN | Director of Emergency Services/Intensive Care Unit at Abrazo Central Campus in Phoenix.

The teddy bear clinic is in its third year with students at Maryland Elementary School. Each year, a team of Abrazo Central nurses shows up to deliver not just the teddy bears and candy, but life-saving lessons that some kids hear for the very first time.

“The kids get to apply band aids and gauze to the teddy bears. They learn about first responders and the importance of knowing when to call 9-1-1 for help, not just to protect themselves, but their families too. The students look forward to this event every year and you can see the joy on their faces,” says Maryland School Principal Nick Gupton.

The teddy bear clinic is a way for Abrazo Central to partner with the community to get young children started early in spotting things like stroke, heart attack, and stranger dangers. They learn to stay away from swimming pools without adult supervision and even the significance of police and first responders.

“These kids are smart enough to learn what it means if their Mom or Dad’s face begins to droop (stroke alert) or if they can’t wake up Mom or Dad from sleep or a nap. We teach them that in every circumstance when they feel scared or anxious about something to immediately dial 9-1-1 and wait for help to arrive,” says Salway.