Everyday Cori By Corine Ingrassia

Look, Feel and Live Your Most Well-Lived Life

rbaby

A Night Out At The Plaza For The RBaby Foundation

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Last week, I shared the very real and scary statistic that only 6% of our countries emergency rooms are equipped for babies and children, how my local emergency room is one of them and how the RBaby Foundation is working hard to change things for the future of our children.

This past week, RBaby celebrated 5 years of  improving pediatric emergency care and saving babies lives. The charity gala was held at The Plaza hotel in NYC and I was honored to be in attendance, supporting this extremely important cause.

The venue was gorgeous and it was a full house!

In addition to live and silent auctions, a giving tree set was up in the back of the ballroom offering wine tastings and selling bottles for the charity.

Julia Beck, whom helped introduce me to RBaby was  awarded the RBaby Champion Award for all the hard work she has done over the years with this amazing foundation.

I’m a sucker for baby pictures, and Julia was one adorable baby – wasn’t she?

My friends and I, who were all there as RBaby Moms, enjoyed a night of getting glammed up– which we don’t often- or ever- get to do together.

It was a night that wont soon be forgotten.

At the gala, Rbaby shared even more shocking statistics I wanted to pass along-

  • 75% of all infant deaths in emergency situations can be prevented with proper child/infant equipement and training
  • Pediatric Emergency doctors who specialize in PED ER receive 6x’s the training in pediatric care than what the average ER doctor is required
  • 90% of parents are not aware their hospitals may not be equipped for pediatric emergencies

90% ! Up until a few months ago, I was part of that number. It’s so important that parents are made aware of this issue.

So PLEASE continue to share the RBaby petition. We are our children’s #1 advocates and they deserve the best medical attention possible.

My Emergency Room Is Not Equipped For Babies

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We moved to the neighborhood we currently live in, when we were expecting the arrival of our little girl.

When we met the neighbors, one of the first pieces of advice we were given was “Do not have your baby at the local hospital, they are not equipped for babies”. Not equipped for babies? I had never heard of such a thing.

Our son, had been an NICU baby and the thought of a hospital not being equipped to handle such situations was beyond scary.

Ryan 2 days old- 2005

Thankfully, Ryan’s NICU experience was fine. He was home within 1 week of delivery. And When it came to the delivery of our daughter, we did not deliver at  hospital we were warned about and we were blessed to have Laina enter the world without any issues or need for the NICU. Still, we were thankful for the advice and always keep it in mind should we ever have some emergency situation with the kids.

I was sure that our local hospital was a rare case- until this year when my friend Rebecca introduced me to the R Baby Foundation. Turns out that my local hospital was not the rare case I thought it was. Rebecca shared with me a horrifying story about her experience with a hospital in NYC and the statistics about pediatric emergency care in this country are down right SCARY.

R Baby PSA Ad 160x600


(From rbabyfoundation.org)

FACT: Many drugs and medical devices have not been adequately tested on, or dosed properly for, children – including babies.

FACT: Although pediatric skills deteriorate quickly without practice, continuing education in pediatric care is not required or is extremely limited for many prehospital emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

FACT: Emergency medical services and emergency departments are not well equipped to handle pediatric care. Most children receive emergency care in general (not children’s) hospitals, which are less likely to have pediatric expertise, equipment, and policies in place for the care of children.

RBaby is working every day to get emergency rooms around  the country to set a standard in pediatric care and become equipped for our babies.

Wednesday, May 8th I will be attending the R Baby Gala here in New York City, and I could not be any more honored to be part of such an amazing cause.

 

If you have children, have friends and family with children, this charity is about them and the babies they will have years to come.

 

Here are some simple ways you can help