Opinions
DATE: December 22, 2006
Letters to the Editor
Greensboro News-Record.Com
[email protected]
Dear Editor,
I was saddened to read Joy Brightwell's "Let’s
Spread the Word on SIDS" article and learn that
her grandson died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Unfortunately, her family is not alone. Last year,
SIDS claimed the lives of 105 North Carolina babies;
7 in Guilford County.
I support Ms. Brightwell's plea for better SIDS
education by physicians, nurses, and hospitals and
for an informed public. The N. C. "Back to Sleep" campaign,
a partnership between the NC Division of Public Health
and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, promotes
infant safe sleep and SIDS risk reduction strategies
like putting babies on their backs to sleep and creating
clutter-free and smoke-free sleep environments.
Understandably, families who experience SIDS seek
answers or products to prevent these deaths. However,
the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that home
monitoring devices should not be used as a strategy
to reduce SIDS and families should avoid commercially
marketed devices.
Ms. Brightwell's call to action is timely! In
January, the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force
plans to ask the N.C. General Assembly to appropriate
funds for a statewide safe sleep and SIDS risk reduction
campaign. All Guilford County citizens should voice
their support for this initiative.
Sincerely,
Dr. Eleanor E. Greene, M.D., M.P.H.
Secretary, Board of Directors
North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation
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