Newspaper Article – Babies more comfortable in new fly-pod

Babies more comfortable in new fly-pod

by Caitlin Nobes
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Hawke’s Bay babies needing specialist treatment are travelling more comfortably and are transported more easily thanks to a “baby pod” bought recently.

In some situations the pod can be used instead of the Hawke’s Bay Air Ambulance’s incubator, which weighed a minimum of 50kg and required two people to transport.

Flight Team clinical nurse manager Stephanie Boston said the team had been trialling the pod earlier in the year after a sales representative brought one from Europe as an example.

“It would be ideal for any air ambulance to have,” she said.

“The rep actually came to get the one we were trialling and I said ‘No, you’re not getting this back’.”

A donation from the Eastern and Central Community Trust allowed the air ambulance to buy its own hi-tech pod, which has a carbon fibre shell and is lined with shock absorbent foam and a warming vacuum mattress.

The pod does not replace the incubator but is an alternative for babies who do not need the medical support of an incubator, but are too small for a car seat.

Until the introduction of the pod any small baby had to use the incubator.

The pods can be easily lifted by one person, keep the baby as stable as possible during bumpy transfers and at a comfortable temperature, and are easily lifted and fitted into aircraft.

Premature babies can be moved in the pod, which can fit children up to 10kg.

Hawke’s Bay Air Ambulance flies about eight babies a month to other hospitals around New Zealand.

The pod was the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Photo caption – PRECIOUS CARGO:   Hawke’s Bay Air Ambulance pilot and base manager Stuart Poppelwell and Flight Nurse Michelle Baines with a specially designed baby pod that makes it easier to transport small babies needing specialist care.
PICTURE/GLENN TAYLOR HBT103192-03