Overview

• From 2017 to 2024, emergency services recorded 173 unplanned out-of-hospital births in Styria, including 16 preterm cases (9%).
• Four premature infants died, with no resuscitation attempted in two cases, while one infant was successfully resuscitated and intubated before hospital arrival.
• Admission temperature was documented for only 6 of 13 hospitalized babies, with a median of 34.8°C and a low of 31.5°C, pointing to frequent hypothermia.
• The researchers call for neonatal-specific equipment on all emergency vehicles, early activation of specialist transport teams, and HALO training for providers without neonatal expertise.
• The authors note the single-region scope as a key limitation and plan to analyze data from other Austrian regions to evaluate readiness and outcomes.