On 19 May 2016, Cops for Kids hit the significant milestone of making our 100th donation since being founded in 2006. The donation of $22,000, which also happened to be our largest donation to date, was made to the Flinders Medical Centre Foundation to purchase a Controlled Hypothermia Device for the Neonatal Unit at the Flinders Medical Centre.
The Controlled Hypothermia Device will be used to cool down babies who have experienced perinatal asphyxia (reduced blood or oxygen to the brain around the time of birth). Research has shown that babies who suffer perinatal asphyxia have improved survival and reduced brain injury if they are cooled. Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of death and brain damage. It is estimated to occur in around 1 in 1000 births and causes around 20 percent of all cases of cerebral palsy.
Prior to CFK providing the Controlled Hypothermia Device, babies were cooled manually using methods that could create unstable fluctuations in body temperature. The device will allow babies to be cooled rapidly and their temperature to be safely maintained.
The 100th donation milestone was celebrated with a presentation at the Flinders Medical Centre, where we heard from staff in the Neonatal unit and were very privileged to tour their facilities.
