 |
Pulse oximetry helps
detect congenital heart defects
when performed at some point after 24 hours
of life.
It is painless, noninvasive and practical. |
The Florida Legislature has been considering
Senate and
House bills that would require hospitals throughout the state to add critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) to the
panel of 35 newborn screening tests that Florida hospitals already do after a child is born.
The test they would add is called
pulse oximetry and it is an inexpensive, painless, noninvasive way to increase the likelihood of hospital staff to detect CCHDs in newborns.
Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects greatly improves a baby's chances of leading a healthy, typical life. Delayed diagnosis can lead to death or injury to babies. According to the
American Academy of Pediatrics, numerous studies show that adding pulse oximetry to the newborn assessment can enhance CCHD detection of CCHD.
As children, parents and
loved ones affected by CHD, we all understand on a first-hand basis the
effects of CHD. This legislation presents us with an opportunity
to help educate our elected officials on the prevalence of CHD and on
pulse oximetry as an inexpensive, painless, noninvasive way to increase
the chances of physicians detecting CHDs in newborns. Most importantly,
we can ask them to vote yes to
help increase positive outcomes for affected newborns and their
families.
If you would like to contact your Florida legislator and tell him/her to support SB 1052 and HB 829, here's how you can do it.
Please take a moment to
copy, paste and personalize
the letters below and send them
via email to your senator and representative. The highlighted
sections are the areas that will require you to either fill in
additional information or personalize.
Sample Letter to Senator
The Honorable [Senator
name]
Florida Senate
Address
Dear Senator[name]:
My name is [name]
and I live in [city]
in your district. I’m asking you today to vote yes on Senate Bill 1052,
Newborn Screening for Congenital Heart Defects, which would require
pulse oximetry screening for every newborn. This inexpensive screening will save lives and
improve the outcomes for hundreds of babies born with broken hearts.
[Insert
your story here.
Try to keep it to five or fewer sentences. If pulse oximetry helped to
diagnose your child, say that]
Pulse oximetry helps
detect congenital heart defects when performed at some point after 24 hours
of life. It is painless, noninvasive and practical. Hospitals already
have the equipment, and, in most cases, it takes less time to perform
the screening than it does to change a diaper. Similar bills have been
passed in Maryland, New Jersey and Indiana, and many other states are
considering pulse oximetry screening laws.
Thank you, [Senator
name], for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward
to hearing the results of the vote. Again, please vote yes on Senate
Bill 1052.
Sincerely,
[Your
name]
Sample Letter to Representative
The Honorable [Representative
name]
Florida House of
Representatives
Address
Dear Representative [name]:
My name is [name]
and I live in [city]
in your district. I’m asking you today to vote yes on House Bill 829,
Newborn Screening for Congenital Heart Defects, which would require
pulse oximetry screening for every newborn. This inexpensive screening will save lives and
improve the outcomes for hundreds of babies born with broken hearts.
[Insert
your story here.
Try to keep it to five or fewer sentences. If pulse oximetry helped to
diagnose your child, say that]
Pulse oximetry helps
detect congenital heart defects when performed at some point after 24 hours
of life. It is painless, noninvasive and practical. Hospitals already
have the equipment, and, in most cases, it takes less time to perform
the screening than it does to change a diaper. Similar bills have been
passed in Maryland, New Jersey and Indiana, and many other states are
considering pulse oximetry screening laws.
Thank you, Representative
[name],
for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to hearing the
results of the vote. Again, please vote yes on House Bill 829.
Sincerely,
[Your
name]
