What Are Incubators: The incident of fire in the NICU ward of Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh and the tragic death of 10 children in it has shocked the country. 10 children died due to a sudden fire in the ward at 10 pm on Friday night. The cause of the fire is said to be sparking in the oxygen concentrator, which caused an explosion and the fire spread throughout the ward. All the children who died were in the incubator. In such a situation, questions also arise on the security system of a sensitive ward like NICU, which will be a serious subject of investigation. Let us know what is this incubator in NICU and why is it important for newborn babies?
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Needs of an abnormal newborn
Sometimes babies are born in abnormal conditions in the hospital, they are born before the prescribed time and they are not ready to face the environment of the mother’s womb. In such a situation, a special kind of environment is needed for their care. Therefore, there is a need for an artificial device that can provide a favorable environment around them in which adequate temperature and oxygen etc. can be maintained.
What is an incubator?
An incubator is designed to provide such a safe, controlled space for babies to live. This is especially important for babies born prematurely while their vital organs are developing. Unlike a simple crib, an incubator provides an environment that can be adjusted to provide the ideal temperature as well as the right amount of oxygen, humidity and light.
That is why the need for a special ward is obvious. For this, a separate ward needs to be built which has more facilities than the normal ICU, which is called Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. NICU can be specially designed in such a way that the operation of the incubator becomes easy. The fire broke out in the NICU of Jhansi Medical College.
What does an incubator do?
An incubator not only controls the climate around the baby, but it also provides protection from allergens, germs, excessive noise and light levels that could harm the baby. The incubator’s ability to control humidity also prevents the baby’s skin from losing too much water and cracking.
An incubator can include equipment to track a number of things, including the baby’s temperature and heart rate. This monitoring allows nurses and doctors to constantly keep an eye on the baby’s health, but also makes it more precise and simple to give medication, infusions or drips to the baby.
How many types of incubators?
There are three main types of incubators available depending on the need – open incubator, closed incubator and transport incubator. Each one is designed slightly differently with different advantages and limitations.
Types of Incubators and Their Uses
- Open Incubator
- Provides a suitable, higher temperature than the surroundings.
- Open design allows for heat exchange.
- Closed Incubator
- Offers controlled ventilation to prevent humidity or infection.
- Maintains a micro-environment with warm air circulation.
- Transport Incubator
- Designed for moving babies safely from one place to another.
Key Purpose : Incubators create a controlled, protective environment for premature or sick babies, acting as a second womb to improve survival rates.
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