SIHF Healthcare and the Healthy Start Consortium, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital, and HEALTHIER TOGETHER once again partnered to promote Infant Safe Sleep Awareness in St. Clair County to help prevent sleep-related infant deaths. 

October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month, a nationwide prevention and education campaign aimed at reducing the risk of sleep-related infant deaths by providing essential information about the importance of creating a safe sleep environment to parents, caregivers, and the public. Approximately 3,500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and SIDS disproportionately impact families of color, especially Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and low-income families.

In 2020, 111 Illinois babies died from SUID before their first birthday. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is the 3^rd leading cause of infant mortality in Illinois. 

Hospitals and community organizations have come together to each play a part in ensuring safe sleep practices for infants. St. Elizabeth’s has been recognized as a Bronze Safe Sleep Hospital by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, which was created by Cribs for Kids.

 “While St. Elizabeth’s Women and Infants Center always educates new mothers about the risk factors associated with infant mortality, we are working diligently within the hospital and with community partners to increase this important education and resources with our mothers, families, and community to improve outcomes,” said Amanda Schaefer, nurse manager.

 “As both a parent and a pediatrician, sudden unexplained infant death is scaring and heartbreaking for our entire community,” said Dr. Shawn O’Connor, chief of pediatrics and neonatology medical director at Memorial’s Family Care Birthing Center in Shiloh. He noted that while parents are the usual targets of educational effort, there are a number of way grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, childcare providers and really anyone care for babies can lower the risk:

1. Place babies on their backs to sleep for naps and at night 
2. Use a sleep surface for babies that is firm, flat, level, and covered only with a fitted sheet 
3. Share a room (not your bed!) with your baby for at least the first 6 months. 
4. Keep things out of your baby’s sleep area (no toys, stuffies, or other items) 
5. Avoid swaddling once your baby starts to roll over 
6. Give babies plenty of “tummy time” when they are awake and when someone is watching them 

 “SIHF Healthcare Healthy Start program offers safe sleep education and distributes resources to families that need a safe place for their baby to sleep,” said Paula Brodie, vice president of support services at SIHF Healthcare. “The Healthy Start Consortium is excited and committed to working with our hospitals and community organizations to educate parents and caregivers on the ABCs of safe sleep.  Every baby deserves to celebrate Day 366!”

 “The HEALTHIER TOGETHER collective impact movement is designed to accomplish together what no single organization can accomplish alone- build healthier communities through healthy collaborations,” said Mark Peters of HEALTHIER TOGETHER.” We’re delighted to participate with all the organizations who make up the Maternal and Child Health Partnership to promote their ABCs of Safe Sleep initiative. Our goal is to continue to support the efforts of these dedicated partners so that families and newborns can sleep well into a long, healthy and productive life.”