The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' Maternal and Child Health Program is conducting public awareness events during October, which is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, to educate parents about the importance of a safe sleep environment in lowering a baby's SIDS risk.
Nancy Roach, RN, the LDH Maternal and Child Health Program coordinator for the Southwest Louisiana region, will visit each of the parish health units in this region during regularly scheduled Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics to demonstrate components of a safe sleep environment and crib safety, as well as talk with mothers and answer their questions. Roach was recently chosen as a Safe to Sleep Champion by the National Institutes of Health, and she received specialized training in September at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The SIDS Awareness and Safe Sleep demonstrations will take place at the Southwest Louisiana regional health units as follows:
Cameron Parish Health Unit
Tuesday, Oct. 2
8:30-10 a.m.
107 Recreation Lane
Cameron, LA 70631
Jefferson Davis Parish Health Unit
Monday, Oct. 8
8-11 a.m.
403 Baker Street
Jennings, LA 70546
Beauregard Parish Health Unit
Thursday, Oct. 11
Noon- 2 p.m.
216 Evangeline Street
DeRidder, LA 70634
Allen Parish Health Unit
Tuesday, Oct. 16
12:30-2:30 p.m.
145 Hospital Drive
Oakdale, LA 71463
Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Noon- 2 p.m.
201 Edgar Street
Sulphur, LA 70663
Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
Friday, Oct. 26
8-11 a.m.
3236 Kirkman Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
For more information on SIDS and how to create a safe sleep environment for your baby, visit www.GiveYourBabySpace.com.