Activity Description: Maternal mortality is responsible for over 500,000 deaths globally every year. Obstetric hemorrhage contributes to the greatest proportion of maternal deaths and, in developing regions of the world, women die because there are often long delays between the occurrence of hemorrhage and treatment.

Funded by a MacArthur Foundation grant, the Women's Global Health Imperative is studying whether the "Life Wrap," a simple neoprene and Velcro device (much like the bottom half of a wet suit), may fill this deadly time delay.

The Life Wrap continuously and safely applies lower body counter pressure to stabilize women suffering from obstetric hemorrhage, effect resuscitation and arrest further bleeding.

After a simple training session, anyone can put the garment on a bleeding woman. Once her bleeding has stopped, she can be safely transported from a home birth or primary health care center to a referral facility for emergency obstetrical care.

Initial pilot studies in Egypt show a reduction of 69% of deaths among hemorrhaging women who wore life-wrap suits.