SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — A lot of people were “seeing red” Friday. Not because they were mad, but because they were concerned.
It was National Wear Red Day, raising awareness of heart disease in woman.
The American Heart Association and doctors at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto took that message to another level by stressing the importance of screening newborns for heart defects.
“Today all the babies are going to wear little red beanies, in honor of Babies Go Red,” Lori Pope, the communications director for the American Heart Association in Memphis, said.
Luke Elliot Adams came into the world at midnight Thursday. His proud parents, Dixie and John Adams, were relieved to know doctors at BMH-Desoto have already tested Luke for possible congenital heart defects, which are the most common birth defect babies are born with.
“It makes he happy just to know that he’s getting checked out very well before going home. And not having a risk of him going into shock or anything,” Dixie Adams, Luke’s mom, said.
Dr. Arie Szatkowski, director of cardiovascular services, said the test is called pulse oximetry screening and is painless and inexpensive.
“It’s a very small device that attaches to the either the ear on the child or to their finger. And it measures their oxygen levels in their body,” he said.
A low oxygen level alerts doctors the child could have a hole in its heart, or serious heart valve problems, which is something that normally doesn’t show up till after babies have left the hospital.
“Such a beautiful little boy,” John Adams said.
Luke Adams’ red beanie is meant to raise awareness to heart defects and that most hospitals, unlike BMH-Desoto, don’t make pulse oximetry screening mandatory for newborns, along with the other tests they routinely perform.
“We’re just doing it early because it’s really the right thing to do,” Dr. Szatkowski said.
The screening is already mandatory in Tennessee and the AHA is pushing for all states to enact a screening law either through their legislatures or Boards of Health.
“All babies at the hospital undergo a battery of tests before they leave the hospital. And we are encouraging states to require that critical congenital heart screening is a part of that newborn screening panel,” Pope said.
The American Heart Association Mississippi has been working with the Mississippi State Board of Health and in the Fall passed the screening law.
Pope said they are in the process of writing that rule, so it’s going to happen in Mississippi. It just hasn’t gone into effect yet.