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Make your own MUAC band
MUAC stands for Mid-Upper-Arm Circumference
We use the MUAC band in conjunction with weight and height measurements to identify the level at which a child under five years of age is malnourished before proceeding with a treatment plan.
The arm of a child in the 'red zone' is unimaginably tiny. See for yourself what it looks like by downloading your own MUAC band now:1. Download the band and print it.
2. Cut around the dotted line.
3. Coil the band to the 'red zone'.
There are four coloured zones, starting at green (normal) and moving up to red (severe malnutrition).
If children in the 'red zone' aren't treated in time, there's a very real threat of death or profound long-term health issues.
Patients who present with complications and severe acute malnutrition, are often hospitalised and treatment can include resuscitation when necessary, therapeutic milk via a nasogastric drips tube when necessary, resuscitation, antibiotics, deworming, malaria screening, and a check for vaccinations.