FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 3, 2007
Contact:
Vivian Muzyk
(919) 828-1819
Hospitals Raise SIDS Awareness in October
5 North Carolina hospitals give safe sleep onesies to all babies born in October, National SIDS Awareness Month
(Raleigh, NC) – Five North Carolina hospitals will remind parents of the safest way for their babies to sleep-alone on their backs. The hospitals, in partnership with the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, will give baby garments with the safe sleep message "Stomach to Play, Back to Sleep, For Baby's Safe Sleep," to each baby born in these hospitals in October as part of National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. N.C. Rep. Rick Glazier of Cumberland, a supporter of infant safe sleep awareness legislation, will help launch the month-long campaign at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville on Friday, Oct. 5.
SIDS is the third leading cause of infant death across North Carolina and the leading cause of death for babies 1-12 months of age. From 2001-2005, 491 North Carolina babies died of SIDS. The state rate for SIDS is .8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In addition to SIDS deaths, 79 babies died in North Carolina from 2001-2005 from accidental suffocation and strangulation. Over the years, a growing number of these deaths have been related to excess bedding and parents sleeping with their babies, according to the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team.
"Accidental asphyxiation deaths of infants in the sleep environment are 100% preventable," says Krista Ragan, the researcher for the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team and a child death investigator with the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. "Parent and caregiver education about what is appropriate in a baby’s sleep environment is key to reducing the risk of these infant deaths."
The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, a non-profit devoted to reducing infant death and improving women’s health, is partnering with five hospitals in counties that experienced high SIDS rates from 2001-2005: Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Cleveland Regional Medical Center, Lexington Memorial Hospital, Onslow Memorial Hospital and Rowan Regional Medical Center.
To help teach parents about the safest way for their babies to sleep, the Foundation, which coordinates the N.C. Back to Sleep campaign in collaboration with the N.C. Division of Public Health, created 800 onesies for the anticipated October births at the five hospitals. Tucked inside each garment is a bilingual (Spanish/English) fact sheet with tips for safe sleep to reduce the risks of SIDS and accidental suffocation and strangulation in the sleep environment.
Safe sleep tips for new parents include:
Put your baby on the back to sleep for naps and at night
Use a firm mattress for baby's crib
Do not place bumper pads, pillows, comforters, soft blankets, stuffed animals or toys in the crib
Place baby to sleep in his or her own crib
Do not let anyone smoke near your baby
Breastfeed your baby
Keep baby's room temperature comfortable (68˚ - 75˚F) – not too hot
Janice Freedman, Executive Director of the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, will conduct a 3-hour training for health professionals at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center titled "Your Role in Promoting Infant Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction" on Oct. 5 as part of the kick off.
"We are thrilled that new parents will leave these hospitals with information to help their babies sleep safely once they get home," says Freedman. "Seeing their babies dressed in the onesies will reinforce the safe sleep message for parents."
The Foundation will launch a larger infant safe sleep awareness campaign in the coming months with new funds appropriated by the N.C. General Assembly.
Hospitals and community groups can order free infant safe sleep materials in bulk by visiting www.NCHealthyStart.org. Individuals who want to receive infant safe sleep information can call the NC Family Health Resource Line at 1-800-FOR-BABY (1-800-367-2229).
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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.
