The results are in from a sound check done at the St. Boniface Hospital during Canada Day fireworks.
The test was prompted after the death of premature twins in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The twins died the day after Canada Day in 2014, and parents Joelle and Tim Brown worried noise from the fireworks distressed their delicate twins.
This year during Canada Day, senior staff with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority measured noise levels and infants in the NICU.
In a statement, it said “There were no measurable change in the noise level during the fireworks display and there were no physiological effects noted on any of the patients in NICU.”
In a graph WRHA released to the Browns, noise peaked around 77 decibels during the fireworks.
It said the spike at the end of the graph happened when the noise measuring equipment was moved.
“It was a little bit surprising that the baseline level was always above 60 decibels. So I know that’s something that, even in my communication with them, that’s something that they’re going to look at changing,” said Joelle Brown.
WHRA sent a more detailed explanation of the results to the couple.
In that explanation, it said that it also measured some of its own equipment used in the NICU.
It said some of that equipment measured above 60 decibels.
The Browns were surprised by some of the results, but happy with the hospital’s efforts.
"They did take our concerns seriously, and that's evident by the measures they are taking," said Joelle Brown.
The Browns said the WRHA offered to look at bringing in a specialist to train staff on how to reduce noise levels in the NICU.
They support the idea, and offered to raise funds to pay for that specialist.
“We’ve told them before that we’d be more than happy to raise funds and we’d love to be able to give back and improve the care for other people’s children,” said Tim Brown.
The Browns said they have always been happy and grateful for the care their twins received.
