Germ fighters
Youngsters at Head Start at the LeMoyne Community Center in Washington open their mouths wide and stick out their tongues at the request of Alex Negle, a field marketing coordinator with MedExpress Urgent Care, after he explained the purpose of a tongue depressor during a Teddy Bear Clinic organized by MedExpress and Community Action Southwest.
Danin Greusel, a field marketing coordinator with MedExpress Urgent Care, shows Anthony Smith-Reynier how a pulse oximeter is used, while his Head Start classmates, Rahmir Davis and Margaret Novotny, await their turns.
Danin Greusel holds Teddy as Alex Negle takes his blood pressure during a Teddy Bear Clinic at Head Start at the LeMoyne Community Center in Washington. The clinic teaches young children about healthy habits and what to expect at the doctor’s office.
Youngsters enrolled in Head Start at the LeMoyne Community Center in Washington have been dubbed germ fighters, thanks to a program launched by MedExpress Urgent Care and Community Action Southwest.
Danin Greusel and Alex Negle, field marketing coordinators with MedExpress, have been peddling their hands-on, educational Teddy Bear Clinic this spring to CAS’s Head Start and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts programs in Washington and Greene counties, teaching young children about healthy habits and what to expect at the doctor’s office.
And based on the reactions of the children at the LeMoyne Community Center, the program is a rousing success.
“Our partnership with MedExpress and their Teddy Bear Clinics adds great value for our children by providing interactive, age-appropriate health information – all while having fun,” Darlene J. Bigler, CEO of CAS, said in a press release. “It’s a creative way for children to meet people who work in the medical field and to become more familiar with what they do.”
Using “Teddy” as a patient, Greusel and Negle examine the bear with common medical tools and explain basic first aid and the responsibilities of doctors, nurses and radiologists.
Negle took Teddy’s temperature, listened to his heart and lungs – asking the kids to take a deep breath at the same time – and measured Teddy’s blood pressure, heart rate and the amount of oxygen in his blood.
In most instances, the kids knew the name of the instruments Negle was using, including the themometer, stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. The only one that tripped them up at bit was pulse oximeter.
“Teddy’s oxygen level and pulse are really good,” Negle told the kids.
Unfortunately, Teddy refused to open his mouth so Negle could check his throat with a tongue depressor. Negle said, however, that “Teddy’s throat was red and swollen when we checked it before we came. But he’s stubborn. He does not want to open his mouth.”
But the kids sure did, enthusiastically opening their mouths wide and sticking out their tongues to show Teddy how it’s done.
To the few kids who admitted to being afraid of shots, Negle offered some advice: “Let me tell you guys a secret. When you get a shot, close your eyes and think of having fun with friends. The shot won’t hurt.”
And neither does an X-ray, Greusel said, showing the kids Teddy’s latest X-ray. “It’s just a picture. It’s not scary,” she reassured them.
One of the most interactive portions of the program occurred when Greusel told the kids, “We’re going to make magic happen.” She had the kids touch a warm ice pack, which was being used to treat an injured leg Teddy sustained when he fell off his bike, then asked them to rub there hands together. When they touched the ice pack, it was cold – much to their surprise and delight.
Greusel told the class that to prevent germs from spreading, they should sneeze into their elbows, drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep and thoroughly wash their hands.
Then she urged the kids to keep their fingers out of their eyes, nose, ears and mouth. “You’re taking germs out of the body,” she said. “You want to keep your body healthy.”
To reinforce everything they learned, Negle then read “The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor,” and all the kids, being the germ fighters they are, recognized immediately that Papa Bear was spreading germs by not covering his mouth when he sneezed.
“We’re honored to partner with CAS to bring Teddy Bear Clinics to more Washington and Greene County children,” said Nicole Maltese, center manager of MedExpress. “We hope we’re helping to reduce the fear children sometimes have of going to a doctor or health care professional, while also helping them learn how to stay healthy and prevent getting sick.”