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Take simple steps to help stop SIDS
Published October 14, 2009
SIDS Prevention Month is designed to raise awareness about how reducing risks can go a long way toward preventing the tragic occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The special designation for October helps publicize important information that can save lives and perhaps prevent lifelong heartbreak. And Brazoria County can and should play a vital role in generating such awareness as home to the Southwest SIDS Research Institute, which conducts research on SIDS and distributes information to new mothers at Brazosport Regional Health System, Angleton Danbury Medical Center and a midwife clinic in Pearland.
Perhaps the most common question is: What is SIDS? That’s because SIDS really doesn’t describe a disease, sickness, accident or any other specific cause of death. SIDS is what they call it when a baby dies, and even after all the testing, examination and autopsies are done, still no one knows why it happens.
Therein lies one of the more painful aspects of losing a child to SIDS, pointed out Mario Guel, education and volunteer coordinator for the Southwest SIDS Research Institute, in Sunday’s front-page article in The Facts.
“The hardest part about SIDS is not knowing why the baby died,” Guel said. “They want answers.”
The latest research, though not definitive, suggests the reinhalation of carbon dioxide could play a role.
Of course, the best way to avoid the pain and suffering of SIDS is to do all you can do to keep it from happening. Fortunately, concrete and effective steps — which are listed here — can be taken to reduce the risks.
Among the most important actions a parent can take is to keep their newborn in a crib — free of loose sheets, toys, bedding and clutter — and never allow an infant to sleep with an adult in a regular bed, Guel said.
Parents who cannot afford a new crib should call 979-299-2814 to apply for a free one from the institute.
Though SIDS can strike any infant anywhere, some babies are more at risk than others. Parents who have lost children to SIDS before and those with babies that have had to be revived or who have undergone some sort of life-threatening event should be particularly vigilant.
Until a cause can be determined, prevention is the best remedy for avoiding the heartbreak of a child lost.
This editorial was written by Dale Dimitri, copy editor for The Facts.
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REDUCE RISKS
How to reduce the risk of SIDS:
• Always place baby on his or her back to sleep
• Place baby on firm sleep surface, such as a safety approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet
• Keep soft objects, like toys and loose bedding, out of the sleep area
• Do not smoke around the baby
• Keep baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where others sleep
• Use a clean, dry pacifier when putting the baby down to sleep
• Do not let baby overheat
• Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS, and do not rely on home monitors
Source: From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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