Trauma teddies calm young RTC victims
Kent Police has taken a softer approach to helping children deal with
the stress suffered when involved in serious road traffic collision by
introducing trauma teddies. The forces specialist roads policing
unit will carry the cuddly bears in their vehicles and give them to
children when they are trapped in a vehicle or involved in a collision,
whether a passenger or pedestrian.
Kent Police has taken a softer approach to helping children deal with the stress suffered when involved in serious road traffic collision by introducing trauma teddies. The forces specialist roads policing unit will carry the cuddly bears in their vehicles and give them to children when they are trapped in a vehicle or involved in a collision, whether a passenger or pedestrian.
The initiative was the brainchild of traffic officer PC Darren Chapman. Having attended many distressing collisions he contacted a Kent toy manufacturer which donated around 100 teddy bears and other cuddly toys.
PC Chapman said: Its more difficult when young children are involved in a collision because you cant always explain what is happening to them. Fear and confusion can overwhelm them and sometimes all they need is comfort and reassurance, rather than the type of explanation you would give an adult.
I am delighted that I have been able to source the toys at no cost to the force and the public, and am very grateful to the toy company for its empathy and support.
Head of the Roads Policing Unit, Chief Inspector Andrew Reeves, said: Any road traffic collision is a bad thing, but it is particularly distressing to all concerned when children are involved. This initiative allows our officers to provide a small teddy bear to a child involved in an incident, which can both comfort and calm them.
Victim Supports regional manager for the South East, John Hayward Cripps, added: Victim Support is delighted that Kent Police is being proactive in helping to meet the needs of young victims of car collisions in what can be very traumatic circumstances. We fully support the scheme.
Kent County Councils road safety officer for pedestrians, Darren Cook, said: Being involved in a road collision is a very traumatic experience for anybody, especially children, who are not fully aware of what has happened. More often than not they are required to keep still while being rescued, or are trapped by the nature of their injuries or the mechanics of the collision, and this causes them stress.
Introducing a simple thing like a toy bear will make a huge difference to the child and will keep them more at ease through the stressful experience. I think it is a great idea and perhaps should be adopted on a wider scale.