Stuffed Animals Get “Treatment” As Bayport Students Learn Real Safety Lessons

BAYPORT, N.Y. — Students practiced real-world safety habits — and even treated their stuffed animals — during an interactive program led by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

Kindergartners at Sylvan Avenue Elementary School in Bayport stepped into the role of young caregivers during the Teddy Bear Clinic, an interactive safety workshop presented by the Pediatric Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

The event kicked off with a kid-friendly discussion about everyday safety habits — from buckling seatbelts properly to wearing helmets and using booster seats. With help from Stony Brook medical students, several students acted out scenarios to show the difference between safe and unsafe choices while riding in a car.

To demonstrate why helmets matter, volunteers took part in an egg-drop experiment. One egg, protected by a parachute and a makeshift “helmet,” landed safely, while an unprotected egg cracked on impact.

Students then rotated through the Teddy Bear Clinic, donning doctor and nurse gear to care for their stuffed animals. Using splints, gauze, and bandages, the kindergarteners practiced basic first-aid skills and learned how medical professionals help patients.

The district said the program highlighted a simple but important message: accidents can happen, but many injuries are preventable with the right safety practices.