FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 12, 2006 Media Contact:
Vivian Muzyk
(919) 828-1819
Guilford Health Professionals
Trained in SIDS Risk Reduction
Locals Learn Baby
Safe Sleep Practices to Lower Risk of SIDS Risk Reduction
December 12, 2006 - (Greensboro, NC) - Yesterday,
18 health professionals from Guilford county were trained in
infant safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the third
leading cause of infant mortality in North Carolina,
and is the leading cause of death for infants ages
1-12 months. In 2005, 105 North Carolina babies
died suddenly and unexpectedly. Between 2001 and 2005,
26 SIDS deaths occurred in Guilford county.
The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation,
a Raleigh-based nonprofit working to reduce infant
mortality and improve the health of women and young
children across the state, conducted the free, two-hour
training at the Guilford County Health Department in
Greensboro from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Titled Baby's
Easy Safe Sleep Training (BESST), the workshop
promotes safe sleep practices based on the American
Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations. The workshop
addresses everything from proper sleep positioning
(placing baby on her back) to crib safety and the link
between secondhand smoke and SIDS. The training also
teaches the safest way to tuck in a baby at bedtime
and warns against bed sharing.
Yesterday's BESST workshop was a "train the trainer"
program for local health educators, community educators,
SIDS counselors and childcare providers from county
health departments, hospitals, and community-based
agencies. Marta Pirzadeh, a consultant
with the Foundation, conducted the training and offered
free BESST educational flipcharts and SIDS materials
to participants to help them promote infant safe sleep
in their communities.
"The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation
looks forward to the day when no family will suffer
a devastating loss from SIDS," says Pirzadeh. "The
Baby's Easy Safe Sleep Training and teaching tool was
designed as a user-friendly way for professionals to
share with their community. Together we hope to reduce
the incidence of SIDS across North Carolina."
Participants included Guilford Baby Love Plus Program
staff: Deborah Caesar, Sharon Johnson, Theresia Lowery,
Vicky Mack, Linda Moon, Tonya Stewart; School; Deirdre
Hoffman, Guilford County Partnership for Children;
Nancy Micca, Family Support Network of Central Carolina;
Susan Odom, YWCA of Greensboro; Laniya Pinkston-Jones
and Christine Murdock of the Guilford Department of
Public Health.
BESST was developed in 2005 with funding from Blue
Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Since
its inception, more than 150 people have participated
in BESST workshops from 80 counties across North Carolina.
Other BESST workshops are scheduled across the state.
More information can be found at www.NCHealthyStart.org.
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The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation, a
nonprofit organization established in 1990, conducts
ongoing public education campaigns, advises state and
local policy makers, and provides technical assistance
and professional training focused on reducing infant
death and illness and improving the health of women
and young children in N.C.
