Creators Syndicate

FIGHT BACK!  BY DAVID HOROWITZ 

Getting the Word to Parents 
         
        SIDS -- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- is one of the  most
puzzling mysteries of pediatric medicine. The U.S.  Public Health
Service defines it as "the sudden death of an  infant under one year of
age which remains unexplained after  a thorough case investigation."
Six thousand infants die of  SIDS every year in this country, and yet,
no one know what  causes it. Most victims are healthy, normal babies. 
        But, while the search for what causes SIDS goes on, a  simple
preventative measure could save the lives of as many  as 2,000 children
a year. Put babies to sleep on their backs  or sides, not on their
stomachs. Studies in Britain,  Australia and New Zealand show that
having babies sleep on  their backs cut SIDS deaths by up to 50
percent. That doesn't  explain what causes SIDS, and it doesn't explain
the other 50  percent of sudden infant deaths. But it does provide
parents  with a safe, simple precaution they can take against a 
tragedy. 
        The American Academy of Pediatrics began recommending  putting
infants to sleep on their backs two years ago. In  that time, the
number of babies sleeping on their stomachs  has dropped from 73
percent to around 45 percent. Good, but  not good enough. 
        So, now, the government and several private or- ganizations are
mounting a nationwide campaign to correct  decades of incorrect medical
advice and educate parents about  the dangers of putting babies to
sleep on their stomachs.  That campaign, called Back To Sleep, includes
television and  newspaper ads, four million brochures to be distributed
to  doctors' offices and personal instruction for new parents be- fore
they leave the hospital with their babies. 
        There are some children, however, for whom sleeping  prone on
their stomachs is still the best advice. These are  children with
cranial or facial deformities, pulmonary  conditions, developmental
disorders or chronic spitting up --  any of which may affect their
breathing. Such cases should be  evaluated individually by the child's
pediatrician. 
        The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also warning  parents
about putting fluffy pillows, blankets and comforters  in the crib with
their sleeping infants. Babies on their  stomachs can't lift their
heads to breathe. Their faces  become buried in the soft bedding, which
traps their exhaled  air and suffocates them. Because the cause of
death is not  always apparent, such cases are sometimes confused with
SIDS. 
        Here are some recommendations from the CPSC to keep  babies
safe while they sleep: 
        -- Put infants down on a flat, firm crib mattress, with  no
plush bedding. 
        -- Be sure your crib meets current safety standards. 
Hand-me-down and second-hand cribs may have loose parts,  sharp edges
or other hidden hazards. 
        -- Never leave a baby alone on an adult mattress.  They're too
soft and usually have pillows nearby. 
        -- Never sleep in the same bed with an infant. 
        -- Make sure a child's nose and mouth are in plain sight  and
not pressed into the bedding while sleeping. 
        None of these steps offers absolute protection against  SIDS or
other crib accidents. But they can reduce the risk --  and reduce it
significantly. 
        If you have questions or comments, please write to David 
Horowitz at 72662,1775. COPYRIGHT 1994 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.