Donations warm precious patients
Babies born at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre have new equipment to help them get the best start in life. A grant from the Health Sciences Foundation will purchase two new infant warmers for the Labour and Delivery unit.
Infant warmers, or incubators, are used primarily to warm babies soon after their birth. When an infant is born prematurely or is unwell, s/he may not be able to maintain a healthy body temperature on his or her own. An infant warmer regulates the baby’s temperature, which is critical to development.
“Every day, babies here need the assistance that infant warmers provide them. The warmers are an imperative element of caring for newborn babies,” says Maureen Vescio, Coordinator, Labour & Delivery, Maternal/Newborn at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “I’m grateful to our Foundation for ensuring they are in place for our delicate patients.”
The $46,000 grant from the Foundation, made possible by donations from the community, will purchase two new warmers to replace aging ones. “We know these warmers will help thousands of infants over the course of many years. It’s an extremely high return for a $46,000 investment,” says Ken Bittle, Chair of the Health Sciences Foundation.
While infant warmers keep the baby warm, they do not restrict the ability to care for him or her. Infant warmers provide a controlled air environment all around the baby. The warmers’ open design allows care providers to perform technical procedures and routine nursing care without disturbing the environment or compromising the baby’s comfort and health.
This Christmas season, the Foundation is focusing fundraising efforts on the needs of children. “We want our children to have the best care possible. To do that, we must meet a constant need to replace aging equipment and purchase new, leading-edge technologies for paediatric care,” Bittle explains.
To contribute, contact the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at 807-345-4673 or visit www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Tracie Smith
Senior Communications Officer, Health Sciences Foundation
Tel: (807) 684-7111 Cel: (807) 621-9438
Tracie.Smith@healthsciencesfoundation.ca
