Elephants, bears and parrots are all treated in the teddy bear hospital. Under the expert guidance of medical students, the so-called Dr. Teds, children aged four to six learn about everyday hospital life in a playful way.
Teddy Bear Hospital - On rounds with Dr. Ted
Elephants, bears and parrots are all treated in the teddy bear hospital. Under the expert guidance of medical students, the so-called Dr. Teds, children aged four to six learn about everyday hospital life in a playful way.
Picture: A teddy bear is examined.
The children examine the sick cuddly toys at various stations: Examination, laboratory, dentist, ultrasound, surgery, plaster cast, radiologist, ECG and pharmacy - everything is simulated. Eyes are checked with a flashlight, blood is "spun", a salad bowl serves as a centrifuge and the sensors for the ECG are attached. The medical history of the cuddly toys is carefully documented by the children in a booklet.
Over 130 children are welcomed to the Teddy Bear Hospital in St.Gallen every year. The project is just as successful in other cities. The aim of all those involved is to allay the children's fear of a visit to the doctor and hospital. Together with their personally assigned Dr. Ted, the children examine and plaster their cuddly toy. The individual steps at the various stations are explained, children ask questions and exciting discussions ensue. They often bring up their own illnesses or experiences.
A lot of preparation is needed to make everyday hospital life as realistic as possible. The appropriate protective clothing for an operation (gown, cap, gloves) is a must, the oxygen mask is placed correctly and the infusion is carefully inserted. Safety in the radiology department is also taken care of - children and cuddly toys are given a protective gown. The creativity of the project managers knows no bounds, so the children suddenly see their stuffed elephant or penguin on the X-ray image again. And the hospital's own pharmacy has various miracle cures for recovery. But what if the parrot has broken its beak, is in plaster and can't take painkillers? Dr. Ted knows the answer to this and so many other questions and has the right advice: a miracle injection can help.
The children leave the Teddy Bear Hospital happy with their treated cuddly toys, often with several plasters and casts. And the feeling that a visit does a lot of good.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, especially the medical students and employees of St.Gallen Cantonal Hospital, who accompany the children through the Teddy Bear Hospital with great motivation and dedication. The next Teddy Bear Hospital will take place in spring 2023.