HORSHAM’S paramedics have 10 more smile aids on board their ambulances, following a trauma bear donation by Horsham City Lions Club.
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“An ambulance ride is scary for younger kids, so the teddies kindly donated by Horsham City Lions Club go a long way,” Horsham ambulance acting team manager Kylie Yapp said.
“They are a really good resource.”
She said paramedics would give distressed children a bear when they were tending to them to distract them from their worries.
“It calms them down and allows us to assess them better,” Ms Yapp said.
"We don’t attend a lot of paediatric cases, but when we do they’re very good for reassuring the kids.”
She said the ambulance service was constantly supplied with trauma bears.
“We are very grateful,” she said.
Horsham City Lions Club president Bill Deleeuw said the club would also donate 10 trauma bears to the Country Fire Authority in coming weeks.
“We’ve been doing it for years,” he said.
He said the club started donating charity bears after some of its members had traumatic experiences.
But Mr Deleeuw said the club would be able to do more if it had more than 17 members.
He encouraged people to call him on 0428 504 817 for more information.