A thousand teddy bears have gone to rescue services in the Lublin province, south east Poland. The toy bears, which ambulance crews have nicknamed “psychological first aid packages” will be given to children who are victims of road accidents.

According to head of the association Misie ratują dzieci (“bears save kids”) Edward Polk the toy helps relieve trauma.

“This is the only positive form of corruption known to me: we give a child a teddybear and the child responds with trust which enables us to work with it or divert its attention,” he told Polskie Radio.

The Association also runs the only children’s’ psychological support centre in Poland. The centre, located in Dźwirzyno near the Baltic resort of Kołobrzeg, runs free-of-charge therapy programmes for small accident victims.

The Lublin province is the twelfth to receive teddy bears from the Bears Save Kids association. (ek)