Who: Parkview Medical Center and numerous community partners
What: Hosting 8th Annual “Teddy Bear Clinic”
Where: Pueblo Mall, 3429 Dillon Drive
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, August 1, 2009

PUEBLO, Colo. (July 10, 2009)--- Parkview Medical Center is proud to host the 8th annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday, August 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pueblo Mall. Each year, the focus of the Teddy Bear Clinic has been to create awareness about injury prevention and to help parents improve children’s health and safety. Parkview together with major sponsors: Kiwanis Club of Pueblo; ENT Credit Union; Comcast are proud to present Southern Colorado’s largest free injury prevention and safety fair.
“Pueblo and the surrounding communities have faced far too many preventable tragedies in recent years involving children,” explained Jana Ortiz- Misiaszek, Parkview Health Initiatives Coordinator. “This event was created to fill the health and safety informational needs of our community,” Ortiz-Misiaszek continued.
Worldwide, injury is a leading cause of death in children and a major cause of long-term disability. Locally, an increasing number of families have limited, or no access, to regular healthcare. “Parkview wants to help families prevent injuries and illnesses in their daily lives,” said Ortiz- Misiaszek. “They will learn about children’s health and injury-prevention in a fun, yet educational, environment.”
Children are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or other “injured” stuffed animal to the event. Then, the “patient” (stuffed animal) will undergo a triage evaluation by a team of emergency room professionals. Children will learn about the most commonly seen injuries and their treatment.
Following the “discharge” of their animal from the “triage” area, kids will make their way through the Pueblo Mall, visiting the health and safety-related exhibits. While visiting the numerous community safety advocates in the mall, attendees may run into a special visitor at this year’s event. Comcast Spotlight will bring Diego, a Nickelodeon favorite, to the 8^th Annual Teddy Bear Clinic for a special visit with southern Colorado families.
Families are also encouraged to head outside to the mall parking lot for the bike rodeo. All children attending the Teddy Bear Clinic will receive a complementary bike helmet provided by funding from Kiwanis of Pueblo and ENT Credit Union. Also located in the mall parking lot, Drive Smart Pueblo will have a drive-up free car seat safety check-point.
“We invite everyone to attend the free, 8th annual Teddy Bear Clinic, and hope families will have a great day while learning to stay safe and healthy!” Ortiz-Misiaszek said.

• 211
• American Medical Response
• Children 1st
• Crime Stoppers
• Dillard’s
• Drive Smart Pueblo
• ENT Credit Union
• Farmer’s Insurance Group – Agent Colleen Peterson
• Game Crazy
• JCPenney
• Kiwanis Club of Pueblo
• Len’s Crafters
• Pueblo City-County Health Department
• Pueblo Community Health Center
• Pueblo Fire Department
• Pueblo Police Department
• San Isabel Electric Association
• YMCA