Current donations will go towards medical equipment for Sale Hospital and Bairnsdale Hospital

A Phototherapy Blanket for Sale Special Care Nursery – CONGRATULATIONS Sale, you did it.

We are pleased to announce that we have raised the funds necessary to purchase a phototherapy blanket for Sale Hospital’s Special Care Nursery. Infants who have jaundice require treatment with phototherapy. Some types of Jaundice in a newborn baby can raise rapidly and can cause brain damage if untreated.  Phototherapy is provided by an ultraviolet blue/white light.

Unlike traditional phototherapy treatments where the baby is separated from mum for long periods, the phototherapy blanket means there can be physical contact between the mum and baby while the baby is undergoing essential light treatment. This benefits both the baby and parent enormously.

Our previous donations have gone towards 4 electronic nursing chair for the Special Care Nursery at Sale Hospital. Thanks to community support and a very generous donation from Beyond Bank in Cunnighame Street we have been able to purchase all 4 chairs needed. These chairs make it more comfortable for mums to give skin to skin kangaroo cuddles. Skin to skin cuddles help stabilise the baby’s heart rate, improves the baby’s breathing pattern and encourages an earlier hospital discharge. The phototherapy blanket will be a perfect addition. Help us fund more equipment like the above. Make a tax deductible donation to the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation’s bank account.

Beyond Bank SALE   Account Name: Newborn Intensive Care Foundation    BSB 325 185   Account number 03806601.

Resuscitaire for Bairnsdale’s Special Care Nursery.

The Resuscitaire provides everything needed for resuscitation therapy to babies under 12 months old. It keeps the baby warm during resuscitation, has medical air and oxygen readily available and provides a safe surface and clear access during procedures. It also allows for the recording of weight (without removing the infant from bed) and adequate lighting.

BRHS does not have a permanent Resuscitaire in the Emergency Department however the Resuscitaire is often used for many hours in the ED when there is a sick infant especially if waiting to be retrieval which can take some time. At the moment they currently share the two Resuscitaires BRHS has with theatre and the maternity unit.

The first 10 minutes of a newborn resuscitation is critical. Newborns and infants become hypothermic (low temperature), acidotic (metabolic derangement), hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hypoxic (low oxygen levels) very quickly without appropriate timely care. The quicker a Resuscitaire can be accessed and set up the better the outcome for the baby. Hence having the equipment on hand where needed is crucial.

Will you contribute to our next project for Bairnsdale Hospital’s Special Care Unit?

Make a tax deductible donation to the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation’s bank account.