United Steelworkers Local 2251 have generously donated $71,785 to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation in support of funding two much-needed pieces of equipment. Their gift will be used to purchase two Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines for Sault Area Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
If you know someone with sleep apnea, you may already be familiar with CPAP. The machine forces air through the nose and into the lungs to keep airways open. The machines funded by Local 2251 are specially designed for Sault Area Hospital’s smallest patients. For newborns and premature babies, specialized CPAP units, called nCPAP, can support their little lungs, so they don’t have to work as hard to breathe.
nCPAP machines can help healthcare providers avoid more invasive treatments, like intubation (inserting a breathing tube). The newer equipment is also easier to set up, and offers a higher flow rate, which means babies are able to get more oxygen to help them get stronger and thrive!
“The members and staff of United Steelworkers Local 2251 are committed to community involvement, and we wanted to support our hospital’s smallest and most vulnerable patients,” shares Mike Da Prat, President of USW Local 2251. “Our members were happy to fund the purchase of two nCPAP machines to support infants in our NICU, and support our future generations.”
“Thank you to Local 2251 for their generous donation,” said Teresa Martone, Executive Director, Sault Area Hospital Foundation. "It's critical that our NICU has this equipment to care for babies born too sick or too soon. Without the NICU at Sault Area Hospital, families would have to travel outside of the community to receive this care. It’s thanks to local supporters, like Local 2251, that we can keep this care close to home!”
On behalf of the Sault Area Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors, Staff and the patients this gift will impact – thank you to the members of the United Steelworkers Local 2251; these new nCPAP machines will be used multiple times a day, every day, helping provide the best possible care at Sault Area Hospital.
Donations to Sault Area Hospital Foundation fund critical medical equipment for our hospital. Local support helps us provide outstanding care.
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