William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-02-01 / 2. szám
HealthPage Winter warning Cold months bring increased number of SIDS deaths The cold winter months bring an increase in the number of infants who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health. During colder months, parents often place extra blankets or night clothes on infants, hoping to provide them with extra warmth. In fact, the extra material may actually increase infants' risk for SIDS. "Parents and caregivers should be careful not to put too many layers of clothing or blankets on infants, as overheating increases the risk of SIDS," said Duane Alexander, M.D., Director of the NICHD. "Of course, parents and caregivers should always place infants to sleep on their backsat nighttime and at naptime." For almost a decade, the NICHD has led the Back to Sleep campaign, which recommends that, unless there's a medical reason not to, infants should be placed on their Health Links To learn more about SIDS and to obtain free materials from the Back to Sleep campaign, log onto the website of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at: 3 www.nichd.nih.gov You can also call the NICHD at their toll-free number: 1-800-379-2943 or, send an email to: NICHDCIeahnghouse@mail.nih.gov backs to sleep, on a firm mattress with no blankets or fluffy bedding under or over them. If a blanket is used, it should be placed no higher than a baby's chest and be tucked in under the crib mattress. The baby's crib or sleep area should be free of pillows and stuffed ^ toys, and the temperature in the baby's room should be kept at a level that feels comfortable for an adult. Since the NICHD campaign began, the overall rate of SIDS in the U.S. has declined by more than 50 percent. Despite this progress, SIDS claims the lives of roughly 2,500 infants each year. SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant in the first year of life. The causes of SIDS are still unclear, and while it is not yet possible to predict which infants might fall victim to SIDS, it is possible to reduce factors known to increase SIDS risk: • Always place a baby to sleep on his or her back — even at naptime • Don't smoke around a baby • Don't smoke if you're pregnant • Place a baby on a firm mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib • Remove soft, fluffy bedding and stuffed toys from a baby's sleep areas • Keep blankets and other coverings away from a baby's nose and mouth • Don't put too many layers of clothing or blankets on a baby * Make sure everyone who cares for a baby knows that infants should be placed to sleep on their backs and the other ways to reduce SIDS risk "The winter SIDS alert serves to remind all of us, mothers, fathers, and caregivers, that we can reduce the risk of SIDS by placing infants on their backs to sleep and by not placing too many blankets on infants," said Yvonne Maddox, Ph.D, Deputy Director of the NICHD. Based on the extensive body of research that has shown that placing infants to sleep on their backs reduces their risk of SIDS, the NICHD formed a coalition of national organizations to launch a public awareness campaign called Back to Sleep in 1994. Along with the NICHD, the coalition consists of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, and First Candle/SIDS Alliance. The NICHD distributes a variety of free Back to Sleep education materials for parents and health care providers, including brochures, crib reminder stickers, door hangers and videos. Willi» Pene Life, February 2004 5
