Middlesex D.A., Hallmark Health Team Up for Safe Sleep for Infants Campaign

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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Hallmark Health have teamed up for the “Let Your Baby Breathe” campaign to make sure every new parent receives important education on infant safe sleep practices, according to a press statement.

The campaign is part of the recognition of October as National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, according to the statement.

The campaign will be introduced at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital
and Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford—both of which are owned by Hallmark Health. Printed materials will be distributed to hospitals, birthing centers, pediatricians, and community organizations as well as website featuring tips and resources for parents, the statement adds.

“The safest place for baby to sleep is in a separate sleep area free of blankets, bumpers and pillows,” Ryan said in the statement. “SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants, thus this campaign is one way we can make sure no family has to suffer the loss of a child. There are a lot of mixed messages out there about what is a safe sleep environment and we hope this campaign provides clear information for parents and caregivers. We’re thrilled that so many birthing hospitals and their pediatricians are joining us in this effort.”

“We are pleased to be part of a campaign focused on such an important issue,” said Carol Downes, director of maternal-newborn services at Hallmark Health System, the statement.

The initiative includes working with pediatricians to talk about safe sleep with new parents at a child’s initial visit and follow up visits during the baby’s first month of life, according to the statement. Parents will receive an informational card that includes safe sleep practices and ways to prevent SIDS, as well as the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office plans to develop a video PSA to promote safe sleep for infants, the statement adds.

This safe sleep initiative was developed by District Attorney Marian Ryan’s new task force, Safe Babies Safe Kids, which grew out of the Middlesex Shaken Baby Task Force and the Middlesex Child Fatality Review Team by expanding the focus to include all types of preventable death and injury to infants and children, reads the statement. SBSK is a partnership among the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, social service agencies, and medical care providers, the statement adds.

Earlier this year, the SBSK task force launched a Back to School Safety initiative that provided information for families on getting to and from school safely as well as stranger and cyber dangers, reads the statement.

SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies 1 month to 1 year of age, and there is an average of 41 sudden infant deaths each year in Massachusetts, according to the statement. Reviews of these deaths by local child fatality review teams have found that many are associated with risk factors for suffocation, including unsafe infant sleep positions and bedding environments, which can result in accidental suffocation, reads the statement.

According to the statement, parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths by following these sleep safety tips:

• Always place baby on his or her back to sleep—for naps and at night

• Keep baby’s sleep area free of pillows, soft or loose bedding, padded bumpers, soft objects, and toys

• Place baby to sleep in a separate sleep area close to where you or others sleep

• Place baby in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and a tightly fitted sheet

• Do not smoke during pregnancy, and do not allow smoking around the baby

• Give baby plenty of tummy time when awake and when someone is watching

• Prevent overheating by not over-dressing baby and by keeping the room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees

• Frequently checking on your baby

• Call 911 immediately if the baby is not responding

• Talk to ALL caregivers about the importance of safe sleep practices

For more information, visit www.middlesexda.com; www.middlesexcac.org/fatality_prevention; and http://www.nichd.nih.gov/SIDS.