Apnea Monitors

PURPOSE: The purpose of an apnea monitor is to help detect an occurrence of cessation of breathing (apnea). These devices attach to the chest wall by way of electrodes and can detect the movement, or lack of movement of the chest wall. Since the chest wall must move during breathing, an apnea monitor can detect lack of breathing. Apnea monitors are very sophisticated pieces of equipment and the user must follow all manufacturer operational and safety instructions. Apnea monitors are monitors only. Apnea monitors do not perform anything but notification, by way of alarms, of lack of breathing. Apnea monitors will not prevent or restore the loss of breathing or heart rate activity. A physician must prescribe and monitor the infant’s progress.

TYPES: There are many different brands of apnea monitors and all utilize slightly different technologies, but most use chest movement as the main indicator of breathing. All equipment and supplies must be used in accordance with manufacturer’s operating and safety precautions. The parents or guardians, and all who care for the child, must be cardiopulmonary resuscitation trained, and maintain that training throughout the length of apnea monitor use.

USE: The parents, guardians, or care providers must always follow these standards:

• Make sure the alarm can be heard from all rooms you may be in.
• Make sure you know how the alarms function and what to do in case of alarm.
• Make sure you do not exceed the recommended use of the internal batteries.
• Make sure the unit is always plugged into a 3-prong grounded outlet.
• Make sure that the belts and electrodes are properly placed and maintained.
• Make sure the users understand the proper on and off procedures.
• Make sure monitors are maintained properly and in accordance with standards.
• Make sure that all parents, guardians, and caregivers have read and understand the apnea monitor user’s manual.