Neonatal Resuscitation
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Excerpt
APPROXIMATELY 3.5 million babies are born each year in about 5000 hospitals in the United States, only 15% of which have neonatal intensive care facilities. Six percent of all newborns require life support in the delivery room or nursery, and among newborns who weigh less than 1500 g at birth, the need for resuscitation rises dramatically. It is essential that the knowledge and skills required for neonatal resuscitation be taught to delivery room personnel in every institution. Each hospital should develop a protocol for implementing such a program.
Personnel skilled in neonatal resuscitation and capable of functioning as a team must be available to an appropriately equipped delivery room. At least one person skilled in neonatal resuscitation should attend every delivery. An additional skilled person should be readily available because resuscitation of a severely depressed newborn requires at least two people, one to ventilate and, if necessary, intubate and the
