Monitoring of continuous noise and the carefully and abrupt manipulations of baby incubators

摘要

The aim of this study was measure the levels of continuous and impact noise of the baby incubators of a neonatal intensive care unit of an academic hospital situated in the state of Parana, Brazil. It was measure the continuous noise generated in ten incubators and measure the careful and abrupt manipulation in two differents models of incubator simulated the possible care procedures to the newly born. It were used two Sound Level Meters with A and linear weighted and noise spectra. The equivalent continuous noise attended to the requirements of the American Association of Pediatrics (＜ 58dBA). The manipulations performed (open/close the hatch; lower deck; drum on the dome), even the ones done in a carefully way, had as a consequence the strong increase of the noise pressure level inside the baby incubator.