Hundreds of teddy bears were donated to Wheatland EMS by Nutrien.
The bears, 245 in total, were presented to Wheatland EMS outside of their offices on Wednesday (July 2), with this being the first time in nine years that local paramedics have taken part in the program.
"We typically give the bears to kids we see on emergency scenes," said Ryan Dahl, interim CAO with Wheatland EMS. "It helps with calming them down and making a good memory instead of a bad memory."
Dahl added that the bears will also be given to local seniors with dementia.
"For Nutrien to do this means the world to not only us, but to all the patients that we're going to be able to hand these out to."
The last time that Wheatland EMS took part in the bear program, Dahl was serving as a practitioner and noted the joy and smiles that came from handing them out.
Nutrien offered to resupply Wheatland EMS with more bears once the local paramedics run out.