EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT/
YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE NEWSLETTER
AVA ADAMS, DISTRICT CHAIR
NEW ENGLAND AND BERMUDA DISTRICT
May 2017
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME
(SIDS)
Facts
SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month
and 1 year of age.
More than 2,000 babies died of SIDS in 2010, the last year for
which such statistics are available.
Most SIDS deaths occur when in babies between 1 month and 4
months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths occur before a baby
reaches 6 months of age. However SIDS deaths can occur anytime during a baby's
first year.
SIDS is a sudden and silent medical disorder that can happen to
an infant who
Slightly more boys die of SIDS than do girls.
In the past, the number of SIDS deaths seemed to increase during
the colder months of the year. But today, the numbers are more evenly spread
throughout the calendar year.
SIDS rates for the United States have dropped steadily since
1994 in all racial and ethnic groups. Thousands of infant lives have been
saved, but some ethnic groups are still at higher risk for SIDS.
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)
Information provided by the Mayo Clinic
DEFINITION
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death,
usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is
sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.
Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS may be
associated with abnormalities in the portion of an infant's brain that controls
breathing and arousal from sleep.
Researchers have discovered some factors that may put babies at
extra risk. They've also identified some measures you can take to help protect
your child from SIDS. Perhaps the most important measure is placing your baby
on his or her back to sleep.
Causes
A combination of physical and sleep environmental factors can
make an infant more vulnerable to SIDS. These factors may vary from child to
child.
Physical factors
Physical factors associated with SIDS include:
• Brain abnormalities. Some infants
are born with problems that make them more likely to die of SIDS. In many of
these babies, the portion of the brain that controls breathing and arousal from
sleep isn't yet mature enough to work properly.
• Low birth weight. Premature
birth or being part of a multiple birth increases the likelihood that a baby's
brain hasn't matured completely, so he or she has less control over such
automatic processes as breathing and heart rate.
• Respiratory infection. Many
infants who died of SIDS had recently had a cold, which may contribute to
breathing problems.
Sleep environmental factors
The items in a baby's crib and his or her sleeping position can
combine with a baby's physical problems to increase the risk of SIDS. Examples
include:
• Sleeping on the stomach or side. Babies who
are placed on their stomachs or sides to sleep may have more difficulty
breathing than those placed on their backs.
• Sleeping on a soft surface. Lying face
down on a fluffy comforter or a waterbed can block an infant's airway. Draping
a blanket over a baby's head also is risky.
• Sleeping with parents. While the
risk of SIDS is lowered if an infant sleeps in the same room as his or her
parents, the risk increases if the baby sleeps in the same bed — partly because
there are more soft surfaces to impair breathing.
•
Risk factors
Although sudden infant death syndrome can strike any infant,
researchers have identified several factors that may increase a baby's risk.
They include:
• Sex. Boys are more likely to die of
SIDS.
• Age. Infants are most vulnerable
during the second and third months of life.
• Race. For reasons
that aren't well-understood, black, American Indian or Alaska Native infants
are more likely to develop SIDS.
• Family history. Babies who've
had siblings or cousins die of SIDS are at higher risk of SIDS.
• Secondhand smoke. Babies who
live with smokers have a higher risk of SIDS.
• Being premature. Both being
born early and having low birth weight increase your baby's chances of SIDS.
Maternal risk factors
During pregnancy, the risk of SIDS is also affected by the
mother, especially if she:
• Is younger than 20
• Smokes cigarettes
• Uses drugs or alcohol
• Has inadequate
prenatal care
•
HOW CAN KIWANIS CLUBS HELP?
• Educate the public by
distributing this information at Health Faits, Pediatrician'sOffices, OB/GYN
Offices, Urgent Care Facilities, Day Care Providers etc.
• Attached to this email is a brochure
from Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute, Boston, MA. which can be
reproduced and distributed.
The following
is an online website where new parents/caregivers can sign up for educational
information
and a baby box to help prevent SIDS:
BABY BOX UNIVERSITY
•
AvaAdams
Young Children Priority One (Y.C.P.O.) District Chair
New England and Bermuda District
