A visit to the emergency room can be traumatic; especially for a child who may not understand everything that is happening. The El Dorado Kiwanis Key Club started a project to help make that visit a little more comfortable. Most of Marshall Hospital's youngest patients will be taking home an educational friend that will help them understand the trauma of going to the doctor.
The group is making trauma dolls as part of a national campaign. Key Club advisor Rita Timewell said the dolls serve several purposes. "They're soft and cuddly. They're small, so they can hold on to them."Photo courtesy of El Dorado High School Key Club
"(The children) can also point out to the doctor or nurse a spot that hurts," she added.
Children can draw on them to show doctors where they may feel pain, and doctors can use the dolls to help explain medical procedures.Photo courtesy of El Dorado High School Key Club
Material to make the dolls was donated by High Sierra Quiltersand the Pizza Factory in Placerville let the group use a side room to cut, sew, and stuff the dolls.The Key Club made 29 dolls in just three hours.