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Alternatives to Neonatal Incubator Transports

Neonatal incubator transports are used to move critically ill newborn babies, such as those with low birth weight or other urgent medical issues, to facilities with higher levels of care. Neonatal incubator transports are typically done by ground ambulance, rotor-wing aircraft or fixed-wing aircraft, and are attended by several highly trained medical personnel. However, in developing countries, especially in rural areas, these resources are not always available and alternative methods of transport must be found.

  1. Kangaroo Transport

    • Kangaroo transport may be the most low-tech of all neonatal transport methods available. Kangaroo transport involves the mother, or another caregiver, carrying the child skin-to-skin on the caregiver's chest in order to keep the child warm and to protect the child from the shaking and vibrating that may be caused by traditional transports. Preliminary scientific studies of kangaroo transport show that, for infants who are physiologically stable before transport, their breathing, heart rate and body temperatures remained stable during kangaroo-style transport, and that both mother and baby were calmer upon arrival than during traditional incubator transportation, according to an article in "Pediatrics," the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The authors of the study do state that kangaroo transport may not be appropriate for infants who require numerous medical interventions during the course of the transport, especially if it is likely to be a long trip.

    Embrace

    • The Embrace is a low-cost infant incubator that addresses one of the key challenges facing low-birth weight infants: maintaining a constant body temperature. Looking like a tiny, hooded sleeping bag, the Embrace has a removable wax-filled insert that can be warmed in just a few minutes either with an electricity-powered warmer, or by immersing the insert in boiling water. The insert then keeps the Embrace unit at an optimal temperature for at least four hours and has an indicator that shows when the insert needs to be reheated. The Embrace is reusable and can be sterilized. The product is also intuitive to use, making it appropriate for people without medical training to use if necessary. Most importantly, the Embrace cost only about one percent as much as a traditional incubator, according to Embrace Global, which greatly improves it accessibility for people in developing countries.

    Neonatal Transport Incubator Backpack

    • Four students at Colorado State University have developed a low-cost, temperature-controlled backpack-mounted incubator unit that can be used for transporting infants over rough terrain when worn on the back by someone on foot, or in a vehicle lacking medical equipment. This lightweight backpack meets or exceeds safety standards for newborn transport and the infant experiences less jostling than during ambulance transport. The Neonatal Transport Incubator even has several alarms to notify the wearer of undesirable conditions, for instance, if the temperature deviates from optimal levels.

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