First Candle praises Saving Babies project, urges legislative action
Submitted by Thomas Hargrove on October 10, 2007 - 4:46pm.
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First Candle, one of the nation's oldest and largest family support groups for survivors of sudden infant death, is urging its members to log into this Web site and provide feedback about their experiences with SIDS and the medical investigation into the death of their babies.. The statement can be viewed at: http://www.firstcandle.org/print_friendly/savingbabies.html. “We applaud the efforts of the Scripps Howard team in pulling together this in-depth study and opening the door for increased efforts in advocating for the mandatory use of standardized protocols for autopsies and death scene investigations, and consistency in the reporting of this data, for all sudden infant deaths,” said First Candle Executive Director Deb Boyd.
Safe Sleep Education is priority of Cribs for Kids Organization
Cribs for Kids, a national safe-sleep education program has been in existence since 1998, providing education and safe-sleep environments to low-income families throughout the country. We applaud your study regarding the need for standardized protocols for autopsies and death scene investigations for sudden unexpected infant deaths. In 1998 Cribs for Kids, thanks to the Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) cororner, Dr. Cyril Wecht and the local Child Death Review Team, became aware of the number of infants who were diagnosed as SIDS but were found in unsafe sleep environemnts and in some cases actually died as the result of an overlay. Since that time over 150 locations in 33 states have become Cribs for Kids Partners to help reduce these preventable deaths. The program is free to organizations who would like to develop programs in their areas. It includes standardized forms and discounted products to ensure safe sleep for infants including the Graco Pack n Play, Halo Sleep Sack, a portable crib sheet with a safe-sleep message and a Respironics Pacifier. More information can be found at www.cribsforkids.org.