Cheshire Medical Center’s Family & Community Care clinic invites families to a day of education and excitement at the upcoming Teddy Bear Clinic and weather-permitting Emergency Vehicle Touch-a-Truck Event on Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.
The Teddy Bear Clinic will be held at 62 Maple Avenue, home of Cheshire’s West Campus. The free event is designed for children to help ease anxiety about doctor visits through interactive, play-based learning. The Teddy Bear Clinic is most beneficial for children ages 2 to 12 and provides parents with a powerful tool to decrease fear and anxiety for their children during healthcare visits.
Registration is required for clinic participation.
The clinic gives children the opportunity to role-play as doctors, nurses, medical assistants or technicians while caring for their favorite stuffed animal. By “treating” their teddy bears, children become familiar with medical equipment and common healthcare experiences in a supportive, engaging environment. Activities may include check-in, emergency room visits, X-rays, lab visits, casting, doctor office visits, immunizations, hand hygiene and belly breathing.
Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal to serve as the “patient,” or a teddy bear will be provided for each child attending the clinic. While many children find the experience simply fun, others may benefit therapeutically by gaining confidence and comfort around medical settings.
Registration for Teddy Bear Clinic appointments opens Wednesday, April 1. To register, families should email teddybearclinic@cheshire-med.com with the full name and age of each child being registered, along with the full name of each attending parent or adult. Space is limited to the first 74 children who contact organizers.
In addition to the clinic, families can enjoy the Emergency Vehicle Touch-a-Truck Event, which will be held in the Maple Avenue parking lot. The free event is open to children of all ages. Registration is not required for the Touch-a-Truck portion of the event.
Weather permitting, children will be able to view and explore the Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team aircraft and ambulance, a West Station ambulance, a West Station fire truck and a N.H. State Police Troop C cruiser.
Food and treats will also be available for purchase from Mama Maria’s Gyro food truck and Kona Ice Monadnock Region.
For more information about this and other community health education events, visit cheshiremed.org/events.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) is a Dartmouth Health member providing the communities in the Greater Monadnock Region a continuum of care spanning primary care and specialty medicine, to surgical services and acute inpatient care. For more than 130 years, Cheshire has been a key contributor to the health and vitality of the Monadnock Region. As a not-for-profit community medical center, Cheshire is deeply committed to delivering excellent care in a safe and welcoming environment. Cheshire is dedicated to being a great neighbor and serves as an integral community resource. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit the Cheshire Medical Center website.