10/09/2024
Unfortunately we experienced an emergency evacuation -
these are the Top 5 Things to Do If Your NICU Baby Is Evacuated Due to a Hurricane. Comment with more!
If your NICU baby is evacuated due to a hurricane or another emergency, it’s essential to prioritize their safety and well-being while staying in close communication with healthcare professionals. You are an important team member that keeps the baby alive, calm, and thriving.
Here are the top 5 things you should do:
1. Coordinate with the NICU Team: Stay in constant contact with your baby’s NICU team to understand the evacuation plan. Make sure you know when and where your baby will be transported and have the contact information for the receiving hospital, and be there for your baby as much as possible.
Whenever possible, get a copy of your baby’s medical records, including any special care instructions. As parents, your knowledge of your baby is crucial in helping the receiving NICU team provide the best care.
2. Pack Essential Items for Comfort: Prepare a go-bag with necessities like fully charged power banks, your phone and chargers, a journal, as well as diapers, wipes, clothes, pacifiers, and The Zaky HUG to provide comfort during the transition. The Zaky HUG can be scented with your smell, helping to calm your baby. Be mindful that your baby may be discharged from the receiving NICU, so pack accordingly.
3. Secure Medical and Feeding Supplies: Ask your NICU team if you need to bring specialized feeding supplies such as breast pumps, feeding tubes specific to your baby’s needs, or formula. Additionally, bring medications, oxygen, or any medical equipment your baby relies on. Ensure everything is clearly labeled for quick identification by caregivers. Supplies may be stretched at the receiving hospital, so bring as much as allowed to ensure your baby’s care needs are met.
4. Establish Communication with Healthcare Providers: Don’t hesitate to ask for updates and contact details from both your current and receiving NICUs. Obtain phone numbers, email addresses, and social media handles, if possible, for ongoing updates. Understand the process for contacting your baby’s care team after relocation and ensure you have a list of key team members at both facilities.
5. Prepare to Offer Comfort and Skin-to-Skin Care: Offer kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) whenever possible to soothe your baby during this stressful time. Skin-to-skin regulates heart rates, reduces stress, and provides warmth and stability. If your baby is being transported, make sure to have The Zaky ZAK with you to enable safe and easy skin-to-skin contact as soon as it’s permitted. In the event of a power outage affecting incubators, The Zaky ZAK is designed for anyone with a healthy chest to provide kangaroo care, keeping every baby calm and warm during transport or other disruptions.
This preparation will help you stay ready and responsive in an emergency, keeping your NICU baby’s needs front and center.
