FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 27, 2008
Contact:
Marta Pirzadeh
(919) 828-1819
North Carolina Health Professionals Trained in Infant Safe Sleep
Local Communities Engaged in Reducing Infant Death Rate
(Raleigh, NC) – In the first of four regional trainings, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation trained 30 health professionals, representing 24 counties, in infant safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite a 28% reduction over the past 12 years, SIDS remains the third leading cause of infant mortality in North Carolina and is the leading cause of death of infants ages 1 12 months.
The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, a Raleigh-based nonprofit working statewide to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of women and young children, conducted this all-day, two-part training in collaboration with the N.C. Division of Public Health. The morning session focused on "Getting the message out: How to spread the word" and provided resources and tips on how to recruit and involve community members to further spread infant mortality reduction messages.
The afternoon session was a BESST "train the trainer" workshop which promotes safe sleep practices based on the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations and addresses everything from proper sleep positioning (placing the baby on her back) to crib safety, room temperature and the link between secondhand smoke and SIDS. The training also addresses the safest way to tuck in a baby at bedtime and supports the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation against bed sharing with infants.
Marta Pirzadeh, a consultant with the Foundation, conducted the training and offered participants free BESST educational flipcharts, SIDS materials and props - including a baby doll, a thermometer, a sleep sack and a tote bag - to demonstrate infant safe sleep in their communities.
"The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation applauds local communities' 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 provide resources to facilitate infant safe sleep education across the state".
The BESST training and materials were originally developed with a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC Foundation. Funding for travel and regional trainings come from a one-time appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly to address infant sleep safety.
For more information about BESST and safe sleep practices, visit the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation web site at www.NCHealthyStart.org.
###
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.
