Public Health Week
The Clark County Combined Health Distirct will be providing daily columns this week in conjuction with National Public Health Week.
Every week in Ohio, three babies die in unsafe sleep environments.
Sleep-related deaths, such as accidental suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), are the leading causes of death in babies one to 12 months of age.
Locally, a Child Fatality Review team meets regularly to get an overall picture, by number and cause of all child deaths. The process includes a careful study of each incident so that we can learn how to best prevent another, as sleep-related deaths are often preventable.
What does a safe sleep environment look like? We recommend the ABC’s of safe sleep — alone, on their back, in a crib. Co-sleeping is not recommended as many accidents occur when a parent falls asleep on a surface that is not firm such as a bed, couch or chair. Room sharing is encouraged but bed sharing is not.
Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep during naps and at night. A parent or caregiver does not need to be concerned that their child will choke in this position and a modification should only be considered if it is recommended by the child’s doctor.
The sleeping environment is an enclosed area, such as a crib, with a firm surface and a tightly fitted crib sheet. A portable pack’n’play unit can work as well. Make sure there are no other items in the environment like bumper pads, stuffed animals or blankets, and the baby is wearing light sleep clothing. More deaths occur in a room where the temperature is elevated, so if the parent is comfortable with the temperature in the room, baby is as well.
Local efforts to spread the message began in earnest during this past year. Hopefully, some of you have seen billboards in the community alerting families to place their child safely to sleep. Clark County Combined Health District employees are also sharing the message at local organizations and businesses.
New parents who give birth at Springfield Regional Medical Center will receive the safe sleep message from the nursing staff, and baby will take home a garment with a message that reads, “Put me on back to sleep” and on the reverse, “put me on my tummy to play.”
Parents can also take part in an on-line learning opportunity via the health district website — www.ccchd.com — where they can learn more about safe sleep and receive a small gift bag for their participation.
The loss of one baby is one too many. Please join us in preventing such tragedies by implementing these practices in your home or by passing on this important information to others that may be caring for an infant.
Education is key to keeping babies safe.
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