June 29, 2023, Munster, IN NWI Times: Ben’s Blue Bags training prepares Franciscan Heath to deal with autism https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/ben-s-blue-bags-training-prepares-franciscan-heath-to-deal-with-autism/article_95add1c0-1633-11ee-920e-9b1b49ecb628.html
Franciscan Health Michigan City emergency department staff members and first responders received training recently on how to help patients with autism.
Franciscan Health Crown Point’s Emergency Management Services Department Lead EMA Instructor Matt Kodiek conducted Ben’s Blue Bags training sessions to teach hospital staff and first responders how to de-escalate situations with patients on the autism spectrum.
Kodicek, also a lieutenant with the Crown Point Fire Rescue Department, founded the Ben’s Blue Bags initiative because of his 9-year-old son Ben, who has autism. The bags have sensory stimulation items like stress balls, fidget spinners and Rubik's cubes for patients with autism spectrum disorder.
“Everyone has a family member or friend or coworker who is on the spectrum and can relate,” Kodicek said. “It helps increase awareness and understanding when you can identify people in your own lives and also recognize it in others during an emergency situation.”
