For Immediate Release -- May 2, 2008

FOURTH EDITION OF LIFE-SAVING SKILLS MANUAL
TO DEBUT IN 2008

SILVER SPRING, MD – The American College of Nurse-Midwives Department of Global Outreach is releasing the fourth edition of the Life-Saving Skills Manual for Midwives in fall 2008. Prior to its release, the team of writers and editors will display samples and hold “meet the authors” events.

First published in 1989, the Life-Saving Skills Manual for Midwives is used to train midwives in developing countries to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies in childbirth. The manual and its corresponding training program build on years of experience of midwives.

The LSS manual’s suggested management, medications, equipment, and procedures assume that only the most basic provisions are available. The critical issues of family, community support, and education are woven throughout the text, and its focus is on strengthening the capacity of midwives and others with midwifery skills to save the lives of women and babies.

The fourth edition was reviewed by LSS trainers and safe motherhood consultants from 10 countries whose comments broadened the scope of the manual. Their feedback was instrumental in the final publication, which features:

• Life-saving knowledge and skills related to the major killers of women and babies
• Critical information for antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum normal care
• A review of updated best practices
• Expanded HIV and family planning information
• Writing that is easy to translate
• User-friendly format
• Pocket-sized clinical reference book

Updating the Life-Saving Skills Manual for Midwives and training package is supported in part by the A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc. and the Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program at Columbia University.

“We are especially pleased to provide increasing support for projects and initiatives that influence the health and wellbeing of families around the globe. Nothing could be more important to the fulfillment of our mission than to support this project,” says Carolyn Gegor, CNM, A.C.N.M. Foundation president.

The LSS Manual is designed for use by experienced midwives, midwifery students, ministries of health, schools, and professional associations. Sample copies and order forms will be available at the 35th Annual Global Health Conference, May 27 - 31, 2008 in Washington, DC; the ACNM 53rd Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 23 - 29 in Boston; and the International Confederation of Midwives, May 31 - June 6 in Glasgow, Scotland. The manual will be available at www.ShopACNM.com in fall 2008.

About the ACNM Department of Global Outreach

Since 1982, the Department of Global Outreach has implemented projects and provided technical assistance in more than 30 developing countries. These activities have shared the common goal of bettering the lives of women and children by strengthening maternal and newborn health, family planning, and other reproductive health services and practices.

###

For more information, please contact Rebecca Jacob, ACNM Communications Manager at (240) 485-1822 or via email at rjacob@acnm.org.

With roots dating to 1929, the American College of Nurse-Midwives is the oldest women's health care association in the U.S. ACNM's mission is to promote the health and well-being of women and newborns within their families and communities through the development and support of the profession of midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. Midwives believe every individual has the right to safe, satisfying health care with respect for human dignity and cultural variations. More information about ACNM can be found at www.midwife.org.

8403 Colesville Road, Ste. 1550, Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374 • Phone: (240) 485-1800 • Fax: (240) 485-1818 • www.midwife.org