FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 22 , 2007
Contact:
Vivian Muzyk
(919) 828-1819
Gaston Health Professionals Trained in Baby Safe Sleep
Reaction to county's increased infant death rate
(Gastonia, NC) Today, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation will train 35 health professionals from Gaston and Lincoln counties in infant safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS in 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, Gaston County's infant mortality rate rose to 9.8 deaths per 1,000 live births making it higher than the state average of 8.8.
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, was invited by Gaston County Health Department in Gastonia. 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 supports the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations against bed sharing with infants.
Today's BESST workshop is a "train the trainer" program for local nurses, health educators, social workers, maternity care coordinators and parent educators.
Marta Pirzadeh, a consultant with the Foundation, will conduct the training and offer free BESST educational flipcharts and SIDS materials to participants to help them promote infant safe sleep in their communities.
"The North Carolina Health Start Foundation applauds Gaston County's efforts to reduce infant mortality by promoting women's health and infant safe sleep practices," says Pirzadeh. "We are happy to bring our Baby's Easy Safe Sleep Training and give away free flipcharts to facilitate infant safe sleep education across the county.
For more information about BESST and safe sleep practices, visit the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation web site 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.
