HIE Hold-a-thon: Polar Bear Initative
APRIL 2026
During HIE Awareness Month, the Newborn Brain Society and Hope for HIE invite NICUs worldwide to participate in a clinician-led initiative supporting evidence-based holding and supportive touch for infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia.
What Is the HIE Hold-A-Thon?
The HIE Hold-A-Thon is a voluntary, site-led initiative that encourages hospitals to develop their own multidisciplinary, evidence-based holding and supportive touch guidelines for infants with HIE undergoing therapeutic hypothermia.
Rather than prescribing clinical protocols, the Hold-A-thon provides educational resources, evidence summaries, and a supportive community. Each participating institution maintains full clinical autonomy while joining a global movement to advance family-centered neonatal care.
This is not a competition, research study, or data-collection initiative. There are no required metrics around holding time and no patient-level data submission.
Ready to Join?
Learn More
Why Family Connection During Cooling Matters
For Families
Therapeutic hypothermia is lifesaving, yet it can be deeply isolating. Parents often describe the first days of their infant’s life as a time when they want to comfort, bond, and participate in care—but feel unsure or unable to do so. Safe holding and supportive touch can help families feel like parents, not just visitors, during an overwhelming and traumatic experience.
For Infants
Growing evidence suggests that gentle, appropriate contact during therapeutic hypothermia may support physiologic stability, neurodevelopment, and early bonding—without compromising the effectiveness of cooling therapy.
For NICU Culture
The Hold-A-Thon creates space for teams to examine institutional practices, address barriers to family presence, and reaffirm a commitment to family-centered care even in the most acute clinical circumstances.
How the Hold-A-Thon Works
Participating NICUs are invited to identify one physician or advanced practice provider and one nurse champion to lead local engagement throughout the initiative.
Each site will:
Develop its own approach to supporting family presence and safe holding
Align efforts with institutional policies and clinical judgment
Engage local NICU teams in education and discussion
Participate in a global community of learning and advocacy
There are no mandated clinical protocols and no patient-level data collection. The focus is education, policy development, and cultural change—led by clinicians, grounded in evidence, and shaped locally.
Educational Webinars: Learn more about holding during therapeutic hypothermia through the educational lectures below.
Partners
