CHILTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A non-profit organization and Fox Valley community are making a difference for children in emergency situations.
The Calumet County Sheriff’s Office and Chilton First Responders received REACH bags.
These bags are filled with goodies meant to comfort children during traumatic circumstances.
First responders will now be able to offer distractions and support to children in crisis situations.
“We’ve had car accidents where there’s little kids involved, they’re not really injured but Mom or Dad may be stuck in the vehicle,” said Dylan Jones, a firefighter and first responder with Chilton.
Jones says during these times children are often scared and stressed.
“Anything that we can do to help distract them, keep their mind off of that is always beneficial,” said Jones.
Now, equipped with a REACH bag, Jones says it’ll be easier to comfort kids in these types of situations.
“These REACH bags allow the opportunity for the children to go and be distracted from whatever it may be that’s going on, and then we can more focus on doing our job at hand,” said Jones.
When first responders encounter a child in crisis, they take the child to a safe place and open the REACH bag.
A REACH bag is a durable backpack filled with new children’s books and drawstring backpacks.
“A lot of people over the years have donated stuffed animals and things which are great, but it’s something to hold on to, it’s physical,” said Chilton Fire Chief Ben Schoenborn.
Schoenborn says stuffed animals are great for comfort but have to be cleaned, and children are often still distracted by the scene of the incident.
“As far as the books go, if they’re able to read and see pictures, etcetera, it gives them something to focus on,” said Schoenborn.
“They’re spending time now comforted by the first responder, distracted by the bad thing by the book so their focus is here opposed to there,” said REACH-A-Child Executive Director, Curt Fuszard.
Fuszard says children get to keep the books they read, and even one of the drawstring backpacks.
“Everything we’re providing today is courtesy of the Chilton Area Community Foundation — everything,” said Fuszard.
Thanks to a grant and support from the Chilton Area Community Foundation, Schoenborn says having these REACH bags wouldn’t be possible.
“I’m actually in public safety full time, have been for over 30 years and volunteering for almost 40 years, I can think of a number of situations where this would’ve been beneficial,” said Schoenborn.
For more information about the Reach-a-Child program and how to donate, click here.
