Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary donation helps buy car seats for new parents in need

OWATONNA, Minn. 05/20/2010--Thanks to a $1,000 donation from the Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary, Owatonna Hospital’s Birth Center is able to purchase ten certified car seats for new parents who are in need of a car seat to take their newborn home.

Birth Center staff and Auxiliary president stand next to two car seats.

Rose Randall, LPN and car seat technician, Birth Center; Charlene Wolff, point of service registration specialist and car seat technician; Tammy Jarvi, RN and car seat technician, Birth Center; and Ginny Thompson, Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary president, stand by two of the ten certified car seats purchased for parents and newborns.

"This generous donation relieves the pressure and stress new parents may have if they don’t have the financial resources to buy a car seat or they’re from out of town and had an emergency delivery," said Laurie Ridgley, RN and Owatonna Hospital Birth Center manager. State law requires all newborns discharged from hospitals must be transported home in car safety seats that meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213. Birth Center car seat technicians are also available to show new parents how to properly use their newborn car seats and safely buckle their infant into the car seat before leaving the hospital.

According to Ginny Thompson, Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary president, "Our mission is to help improve the care patients receive at our hospital. We’re especially happy that we could help parents make sure that they’re most precious child is safely buckled in."

Since 1957, the Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary has been raising funds for unbudgeted hospital items, such as extra-wide wheelchairs, special eye surgery carts and pediatric resuscitation carts. In addition, they provide scholarships for students in nursing and health-related fields. Last year alone, Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary volunteers donated more than 22,000 hours of time to help enhance the care offered to patients and their families.

About Owatonna Hospital

Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Owatonna Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Steele County. Owatonna Hospital provides a full range of health care services including a birth center, emergency care, surgery and rehabilitation. Allina has built a replacement hospital in Owatonna, off Interstate 35.

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