First responders from the area will be joining together for an event that will give young children a chance to get comfortable with the men and women in uniform who may help them during an emergency. The Fall Kids Safety Fair is being offered through a collaboration of the Aroostook Autism Support Group, TAMC and various emergency responders on Saturday, Sept. 13, at TAMC’s North Street Healthcare Plaza.
“Any child, when faced with an emergency, will undoubtedly experience a level of fear and anxiety that is brought on by strange lights, sounds, and the uniformed men and women that will surround them”, said Maeghan Swanson, co-chair of the Aroostook Autism Support Group”. “Often the fear can possibly hinder the help that is trying to be given by the first responders. Recognizing this, we wanted to create an opportunity to allow all children in our community to meet first responders in a non-threatening environment to help familiarize them with not only the responders, but the gear, and vehicles as well, in hopes to alleviate some of the fears associated with them.”
While she originally conceived of the idea for autistic children, Swanson quickly realized that most young children would share the same fears and benefit from a “safety day.” She shared her vision with staff from TAMC, where the support group holds their monthly meetings.
“TAMC strives to provide culturally competent, individualized care to every person served. This is an opportunity for children to become accustomed to the equipment and vehicles, and to what we do as emergency responders, while at the same time giving EMS providers the opportunity to interact with children in a non-emergency situation. Everyone’s comfort, familiarity, and knowledge increases,” said Daryl Boucher, the director of emergency services and critical care at TAMC.
The intent of the day is to combine several fun activities while acclimating the children to various first-responders and emergency vehicles. Emergency service organizations have been quick to support the idea and plan to take part that day. Personnel from the Presque Isle Fire Department, the Presque Isle Police Department, Crown Emergency Care, the Aroostook County Sheriff’s office, the State Police, Border Patrol, and the Maine Warden Service all plan to be on hand.
“We’re really excited to take part,” said Ben Everett, ambulance services supervisor for TAMC’s Crown Emergency Care. “Not only will this safety fair help the kids get more comfortable with us, but it will help our staff be more comfortable with the kids. We don’t always have a lot of opportunities to work with pediatric patients, especially ones with special needs, and this will be a great chance to build on those interpersonal skills. Both our providers and the children will benefit from this exposure to each other in the case of a real emergency.”
In addition to the first responders, staff from TAMC’s Aroostook Pediatrics will be holding a TAMC Teddy Bear Clinic in their waiting room at North Street. Children are encouraged to bring in their favorite stuffed animal or doll and have it “treated” by the staff.
“This is a fun way for us to help get the kids familiar with some of the equipment or supplies they might see when they need to be treated, and hopefully make them a little less fearful of a trip to the doctor’s office,” said Jennifer Robichaud, RN, clinical coordinator at Aroostook Pediatrics, who is organizing the clinic.
Other fun activities will include a bouncy house, face painting and an art project. A popcorn machine and cotton candy machine will add to the festivities, and healthy snacks will be available as well.
Several local organizations will have booths at the event, sharing information and helpful resources for parents, including ACAP, ASET 911, Aroostook Autism Support Group, Autism Love, Community Health and Counseling Services, Connections for Kids, Heather and Liam Connection, Life by Design and Northern Maine General.
In keeping with the original intent of helping children with autism or other special needs, the Fall Kids Safety Fair will be sensory-friendly. Although many emergency vehicles will be on hand for the children to explore, no sirens will be used. There will also be a quiet room available inside of North Street for children who have had too much stimulation and need a break from the activity.
“Our goal is to ensure that parents feel comfortable bringing their children to this event regardless of age level or special needs. We have made this an event that is safe, engaging, and a fun experience for everyone,” said Swanson.
The Fall Kids Safety Fair takes place on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at TAMC’s North Street Health Plaza on North Street.
