In recognition of SIDS Awareness Month (October), the Louisiana Department of Health andHospitals - Office of Public Health’s SIDS Awareness Program is presenting statewide demonstrations on safe sleeping positions for babies, tips on healthy behaviors that can decrease the risk of SIDS, educational materials on SIDS and factors that can reduce SIDS deaths.  Safe Sleep Events & Baby Fairs (see below for list of events) are taking place in each of the state’s nine public health regions throughout the month of October.  Pregnant women and those with children under one year old are eligible to register to win a baby bed or a variety of baby merchandise. All friends, family and caregivers are invited to attend these free events.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the number one cause of unexpected death in infants under one year of age in Louisiana.  Parents and caregivers can help eliminate sudden infant deaths in Louisiana by understanding the risk factors and measures they can take to give a baby the best possible chance to thrive.

According to recent statistics, Louisiana continues to have one of the highest rates of SIDS deaths in the country with 66 babies dying from SIDS in 2004 alone.  This amounts to 1.0 death per 1,000 live births, which is twice the national average. Also, the SIDS rate for African American babies is two times higher than that of whites. From 2002- 2004* there were a total of 199 SIDS deaths that occurred in Louisiana.  New Orleans and the surrounding area had a total of 58 SIDS deaths during this time period, ranking it the highest of the state’s nine public health regions, while the Alexandria area had a total of 13 SIDS deaths, ranking it the lowest in the state.

According to Janie Kelly, SIDS Risk Reduction Coordinator for the State of Louisiana, “While the number and rate of SIDS deaths has decreased or remained unchanged in many parts of the state, the cause of SIDS is still unknown and even one death is one too many.”

SIDS occurs when a baby appears healthy, but for no apparent reason, dies during sleep. SIDS can occur in all types of families regardless of race, ethnic background, or socioeconomic level. Studies have shown that there are ways to decrease the risk of death from SIDS, including: pacifier usage, which is recommended from the age of one month to one year old; avoiding bed sharing with baby and soft bedding (“Share the Room, Not the Bed”); placing healthy babies to sleep on their backs; not smoking when pregnant or around the infant; taking care not to overheat baby; and breastfeeding.

Louisiana SIDS Awareness, a program of the Louisiana Department of Health - Office of Public Health, dedicates invaluable time and resources statewide to educating pregnant and new mothers, fathers, and caregivers about the importance of safe sleep practices for babies in the hope that even one young life can be saved.

According to Kelly, “As many people build and rebuild their lives in Louisiana, it is our hope that we will be able to continue to provide vital data and key information that will not only create awareness of SIDS, but ultimately reduce the numbers of SIDS deaths statewide.”

For more information on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, call the national SIDS hotline at 1-800-221-SIDS (7437) or visit www.1800251BABY.org for the location of a nearby Safe Sleep event.

*Source:  Vital Statistics of Louisiana; Louisiana SIDS Program and National SIDS Resource Center 

 LOUISIANA SIDS PROGRAM STATEWIDE SAFE SLEEP EVENTS:

 Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Harahan

5110 Jefferson Highway
 
Saturday, October 6

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Cortana Mall (inside Macy’s courtyard)

9401 Cortana Place, Baton Rouge
 
Friday, October 12

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Thibodaux  

410 N. Canal Street
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Mathews

4858 Highway 1
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Lafayette

1229 N.E. Evangeline Thruway
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Babies ‘R’ Us in Lafayette         

5700 Johnston Street
 
Friday, October 12

12 noon – 4 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in DeRidder    

1125 N. Pine Street
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Lake Charles

2500 N. Martin Luther King Hwy.
 
Saturday, October 20

8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
 CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hosp. Mediplex 3347 Masonic Drive
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Shreveport

1125 Shreveport Barksdale Highway
 
Saturday, October 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Bastrop

6091 Highway 165
 
Thursday, October 11

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Amite

1200 West Oak
 
Friday, October 12

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Hammond  

2799 West Thomas Street
 
Friday, October 12

12 noon – 4 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Slidell

167 Northshore Blvd.
 
Friday, October 19

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 Wal-Mart in Walker

28270 Walker South