Features / Avon Fire and Rescue
Avon Fire & Rescue gifted handmade teddies to help traumatised children
Children who have gone through traumatic experiences, be it a house fire, a traffic collision or simply being locked in the bathroom, will be given a furry friend to help them recover.
Teddies knitted by 12 groups, including the Knowle Townswomen’s Guild, will be be given out by Avon Fire and Rescue after incidents. The toys will also be used during risk and reduction services carried out by firefighters, to teach children about the risks of fires and how to escape if one occurs.
Previously, Avon Fire and Rescue’s only resource when seeking to comfort young children was the British Red Cross Unit, who supply spare clothes and toys. However, now with the knitted teddies, firefighters can comfort children with a toy that is handmade and local, while waiting for supplies to arrive from the British Red Cross.
is needed now More than ever
The knitters were treated to a tour of Bedminster fire station as a thank you
“We are absolutely delighted that this group of extraordinary women have come together to provide these trauma teddies,” says risk reduction and watch manager Darren Claspe.
“We often attend upsetting emergency incidents and we see children in distress who don’t understand what is happening and why they are there. This gives us an opportunity to engage with children and lessen the impact of a situation.”
Knitting began in March after the Knitter Natter group was inspired by a craft magazine that showed fire services around the country with similar toys and they created enough bears for each one of the 36 fire trucks to have two knitted teddies on board.
Group leader Stella Tratt contacted Avon Fire & Rescue and rallied together 11 other guilds to help.
Being handmade makes each bear unique
Stella said: “We are delighted that Avon Fire & Rescue Service have accepted our offer to provide them with trauma teddies. I have distributed the knitting pattern to all the Townswomen’s Guilds in the Avon area and while there is still a need, we will carry on knitting.”
Read more: Kingswood fire station sniffs out three new recruits
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