NYC Single Mom Films R Baby Foundation PSA

Recently, I filmed a Public Service Announcement for R Baby Foundation. Good friend and blogger, Rebecca Levey  (www.kidzvuz.com ) reached out and asked if I would  participate in the PSA as well as attend the R Baby Food and Wine Gala (more to come on that one.) Of course, I said yes as a favor but when I researched what R Baby Foundation mission was, not only was I truly on board but I was shocked  to learn how our emergency rooms really are failing our children.

Here are some sobering facts:

• In the U.S. alone, 20,000 newborns die during their first month of life (with 30,000 babies dying before their first birthday each year).
• Children make up 27 percent of all ED visits, but only 6 percent of EDs in the U.S. have the necessary supplies for pediatric emergencies, and emergency room doctors historically spend only 8% of their training in pediatrics.
• To date, there is no standard definition of a Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) in the U.S. and little clarification provided to parents on where to find the best available care for their children in an emergency.

One in five children will visit a local emergency room this year–but will their local hospital be ready to treat them? According to The R Baby Foundation, the first and only not for profit foundation uniquely focused on saving babies’ lives through improving pediatric emergency care, there are vast disparities in pediatric preparedness in United States Emergency Departments (ED) in training, equipment and supplies.

R Baby was founded by Andrew Rabinowitz, Partner and COO of Marathon Asset Management, and his wife Phyllis, in the aftermath of the tragic passing of their newborn daughter. Born healthy, Rebecca developed suspicious symptoms that were misdiagnosed as a common cold in the Emergency Room. Discharged from the hospital, Rebecca died the next morning– at just nine days old –the result of the entroviral infection that could have been treated if properly diagnosis.

To bring attention to their critical mission, R Baby will host the R Baby Five-Star Food & Wine Gala at The Plaza Hotel on Wednesday May 9, 2012.

Here is the R Baby PSA:

 

• To get involved Please sign R Baby’s petition to improve pediatric emergency care: http://www.change.org/petitions/improve-pediatric-emergency-care
• Follow R Baby  on Twitter and   Facebook

• Share you emergency department story with other parents – http://www.rbabyrealstories.org/Home