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Neopuff Infant Resuscitator Initiative

Newborn-Baby-Inside-IncubatorThe Children’s Dream Foundation is undertaking a major project to place Neopuff Infant Resuscitators in hospitals throughout the Hudson Valley. Neopuffs control the amount of pressure used to inflate a baby’s lungs and the amount of oxygen used. The device is particularly useful with premature babies and newborns but is also useful with children who have asthma or sometimes in an emergency situation.

Physicians have noted that the Neopuff device prevents the danger of over-inflating a baby’s lungs. Over-inflating the lungs under pressure can cause damage to the lungs and exposing babies to high levels of oxygen can also cause permanent damage to their eyes.

Michael was a baby born prematurely at 30 weeks. He weighed 1300 grams or slightly less than three pounds. He was delivered by a crash cesarean section because a fetal monitor showed that his heart rate was slowing. At birth he was not breathing and required oxygen. A Neopuff was used to inflate his lung and after two days of treatment he was breathing on his own.

Maria was a three year old with asthma who arrived at the Emergency Room of a local hospital. She required oxygen and positive pressure. The Neopuff was used with a favorable result.

Lucy was delivered at full term by caesarean. She was the mother’s third caesarean. The baby had a condition known as Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTNB), which means that she had fluid in her lungs. The Neopuff was used and twenty-four hours later Lucy was breathing normally, ready to go home and meet her two big brothers.

In addition to supplying the Neopuff devices the Foundation will sponsor Neo-Natal Resuscitation Courses throughout the region that will train nurses and health care providers in the proper usage of the Neopuffs and emergency procedures for infants in distress.

This project continues the Foundation’s tradition of responding to the needs of healthcare organizations in the region as they continue to work to improve the care our children receive – especially in emergencies.