According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies (that’s more than 1 in 10 babies) are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) every year.
Due to the complications of preterm birth, almost 1 million children die each year. In fact, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. And many of those who survive face a lifetime of disability which includes learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems.
Infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed, lack the body fat to regulate their own temperature. As such, they are typically placed in an incubator or radiant warmers. But not everyone can afford these life-saving options, nor have access to them, especially those in developing countries.
This globally pressing issue, along with its rising statistics (in almost all countries with reliable data, preterm birth rates are increasing), is indeed alarming. Thankfully, an organization has come up with a brilliant, cost-effective solution.
Called the Embrace infant warmer by Embrace Global, this simple “little sleeping bag” can provide the same results as an incubator (which can cost up to $20,000) but for 1% of the cost.
embraceglobal.org
This world-changing, baby-saving device allows babies to regulate their own body temperature in the most crucial moments of early life.
designinitiative.stanford.edu
The Embrace warmer is inexpensive and it can be reused up to 50 times. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and it’s portable, too!
embraceglobal.org
“We’ve been at it for eight years and have now helped approximately 150,000 babies across 10 countries,” co-founder Jane Chen said in an interview with Upworthy.
embraceglobal.org
Their goal is to help 1 million babies. But as with a lot of projects, funding is an issue.
blog.fastcompany.com
Their solution was launching Little Lotus, a collection of baby products for the U.S. market. These products (swaddles and sleeping bags) use similar technology to that of the Embrace infant warmer to keep babies at the perfect temperature.
Little Lotus
For every purchase of a Little Lotus product, an Embrace infant warmer will be sent to a vulnerable baby in the developing world.
www.forbes.com
embraceglobal.org
Watch this video to learn more about this amazing invention!