Helping Babies Breathe
As part of the Survive & Thrive Global Development Alliance, we are increasing the availability of resuscitation to manage newborn asphyxia during birth.
How it Works
Proper Equipment
Providing Laerdal-developed upright vent mask, penguin suction devices, and clean birthing kits: basic equipment considered necessary for safe birth in the United States.
Proper Training
We are committed to providing initial training to birthing providers who need it and continuing on-the-ground support to ensure adoption of techniques and success of the program.
Proper Practice
Our training seminars also include ample practice time to ensure understanding and retention of life-saving curriculun.
We Help Babies Breathe
Spreading the knowledge needed to help babies live and thrive not only saves babies but gives people who would never have the chance to meet and work together a unique opportunity to gain important cultural understanding that is life changing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is training happening during COVID-19?
The country is closed to visitors at this time. Additionally, travel between villages is discouraged. We anticipate that we will resume training when travel begins and the country has resumed economic and social activity.
are there volunteer opportunities?
We anticipate that we will have volunteer opportunities for medical professional trained in the Helping Babies Survive program. We encourage prospective volunteers to attend Helping Babies Survive Training classes so they will be prepared to volunteer when the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.
Do I have to be able to speak Spanish to volunteer?
While speaking spanish is an asset, you do not have to speak spanish to participate. We cooperate with the professionals in Guatemala who conduct our training. We additionally have our trainer Ana who speaks both spanish and Kaqchikel. Having knowlegable professionals from the US and Canada is very helpful in the practice portions of our training. This is particularly important when we train indiginous midwives.
Who have you trained?
We have trained doctors, nurses, and midwives. At the time the pandemic hit we had scheduled to equip and train all doctors and nurses at the government run birthing centers. We hope we will be able to resume our schedule when we are able to return to Guatemala and when it is approved to travel between villages.
Midwives are very anxious to learn and want to participate in trainings. After the Sololá birthing center doctors and nurses are train we plan to work with the Sololá ministry of health to train active midwives.