Thousands of bears finding their way to Tulsa from Midwest City High School and Oklahoma City Barons hockey franchise

TULSA, Okla. (December 6, 2011)  – Local emergency medical technicians and paramedics from EMSA have gotten some low-tech tools to help sick and injured children. Teddy bears! More than 2500 teddy bears and were collected and donated by Midwest City High School DECA club students and Oklahoma City Barons hockey fans.

 

The bears and other stuffed animals are used with pediatric patients as a diagnostic tool and to help ease fears.

 

EMSA’s Oklahoma City-area operations started the program several years ago and donations have increased every year.

 

“This program is so successful in Oklahoma City, and the need for them in Tulsa is just as great, we decided to try and jump-start the program in Green Country,” said Chris Stevens, public information officer for EMSA’s Eastern Division. “Hopefully, we can get companies here in the Tulsa to do the same next year and model what we’ve done in the Oklahoma City area.”

 

Between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, EMSA medics treated almost 3000 patients under the age of 10.

 

“We feel terrible when any child is sick or injured much less having to go to the hospital in an ambulance. That can be so scary for a child,” said EMSA Paramedic Danielle Cain.

 

“When you become a medic, you do it out of compassion and a need to help others. When it comes to children, that feeling only increases.

 

“We are so grateful to the donors of these bears from year-to-year, we couldn’t do this without them.”