NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 19, 2004
CONTACT:
Amon Marstiller
(919) 256-3586
Leading Statewide Infant Mortality Campaign Marks 10th Anniversary as Part of
National SIDS Awareness Month
N.C. Back to Sleep Campaign Celebrates 10 Years of Progress in SIDS Reduction
And Announces Plans to Address Safe Sleep in Hospitals
October 19, 2004 -- (Raleigh,
NC) Today, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation
officially commemorated the 10th anniversary of the
N.C. Back to Sleep Campaign at a press conference at
WakeMed's Raleigh campus, as part of National SIDS
Awareness Month. Foundation leaders outlined the program's
successes over the last decade and laid the groundwork
for the campaign's future direction.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) is the leading cause of death for infants ages
one to twelve months. In North Carolina, approximately
100 infants and their families experience the tragedy
of SIDS each year. Since the inception of the N.C.
Back to Sleep Campaign, statewide SIDS rates have dropped
26%.
"Today is a significant
day for the N.C. Back to Sleep Campaign and our state's
battle to reduce infant mortality," said Janice Freedman,
North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation executive director.
"Ten years ago, SIDS rates in North Carolina were exceedingly
high. Over the last decade, we have seen progress and
are taking new steps to ensure this trend continues."
Over the last 10 years,
the campaign has developed into a model program for
SIDS reduction. Outreach efforts are coordinated through
the use of bilingual (English and Spanish) educational
and media materials, and professional training - including
a "train the trainer" program targeting SIDS reduction
in child care.
The Foundation's Infant/Toddler
Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care (ITS-SIDS)
Project has produced immediate results, including contributing
to groundbreaking legislation that requires infant
safe sleep standards, policy and SIDS training for
North Carolina's licensed childcare providers caring
for newborns and infants. Within the last two years,
more than 23,000 childcare providers have received
state approved ITS-SIDS training from the Foundation.
The N.C. Back to Sleep
Campaign was established in 1994 to localize the nationwide
Back to Sleep Campaign administered by the National
Institutes of Health. The statewide program is part
of the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation's public
education effort to reduce infant mortality. The Foundation
is nationally recognized for its successful infant
mortality reduction programs, and coordinates six of
the state's most highly regarded public education campaigns
addressing women's and children's health.
Today, Foundation leaders
also announced the Campaign's future efforts to address
safe sleep policies and parent education in hospital
nursery settings. According to N.C. Back to Sleep Campaign
coordinator, Christine O'Meara, "Newborn nursery staff
can play a vital role in helping lower SIDS risks.
Engaging all of our state's birthing centers and hospitals
in this process is a crucial next step to ensure consistency
in North Carolina's battle against SIDS."
Research indicates that
hospitals with formalized safe sleep policies are three
times more likely to place babies on their backs than
hospitals without such policies. Additionally, hospitals
with appropriate guidelines established are more likely
to effectively educate parents and caregivers on the
Back to Sleep message and SIDS, and make educational
materials available for distribution.
The Foundation is convening
an advisory group, made up of representatives from
across the state, to ensure widespread collaboration
and effective implementation of the program. To date,
the North Carolina Hospital Association, the NC Child
Fatality Task Force, the Old North State Medical Society,
North Carolina's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC),
Mission Hospitals (Asheville), and WakeMed (Raleigh)
have signed on to participate.
"We are very happy to
have the participation of such wonderful organizations
and leaders in North Carolina's healthcare industry,"
said Janice Freedman. "Their collaborative insight
and direction
will be essential as we move forward."
For their part, WakeMed
is playing an instrumental role in the Campaign's next
phase as one of the initial members of the advisory
group and host for the 10th Anniversary event. As a
model facility for infant safe sleep practice and parent
education, WakeMed has addressed this issue for many
years.
"As one of
the state's leading birth centers, we realize our role
in educating parents on the importance of Back to Sleep.
We proactively work with mothers and fathers to ensure
they are properly educated about safe sleep practices
and SIDS in general," said Kathleen Privette, director
of WakeMed's Women's and Children's Services.
