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Cleveland Regional Medical Center To Give Safe Sleep Onesies To All Babies Born In The Hospital In October
 In Partnership with N.C. Healthy Start Foundation During SIDS Awareness Month

Cleveland Regional Medical Center and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation (NCHSF) will partner to give onesies (baby garments) to every baby born in Cleveland Regional Medical Center in October for National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. Each onesie has an attractive safe sleep message “Stomach to Play, Back to Sleep, For Baby’s Safe Sleep.”  These onesies remind parents and caregivers that placing a baby on his back to sleep for the first year of life is the most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS.


In 2009, SIDS accounted for 98 deaths in children under 1 year of age in North Carolina. From 2005-2009, 6 babies died in Cleveland County, according to the NC State Center for Health Statistics.   In addition to SIDS deaths, many babies die from accidental suffocation and strangulation. These preventable deaths are often related to babies being placed in unsafe sleep environments such as couches, sleeping with parents, or surrounded by excess bedding, according to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  The safest place for a baby to sleep is alone in a crib or bassinet close to a parent or caregiver. 


NCHSF, in collaboration with the NC Division of Public Health, coordinates the NC Infant Safe Sleep campaign. Since 1994, the campaign has educated families, childcare providers, health and social service providers and policy makers about steps they can take to reduce the risk of SIDS. As part of its hospital (HOPES) initiative, NCHSF will send 95 “Stomach to Play, Back to Sleep, For Baby’s Safe Sleep” onesies to Cleveland Regional Medical Center for anticipated October births. A bilingual (Spanish/English) fact sheet with tips for safe sleep and additional educational materials will also be provided. 


Safe sleep tips for new parents include: 


Put your baby on his/her back to sleep for naps and at night 


Use a firm mattress for baby’s crib


Keep pillows, comforters and soft blankets, stuffed animals and toys out of the crib


Baby should sleep in his or her own crib


Do not let anyone smoke near your baby


Breastfeed your baby: as well as many other benefits, it can reduce the risk of SIDS by 50%


Keep baby and the room temperature comfortable (68˚ - 75˚F) – not too hot 


Betsy Bryant, RNC, MSN, Women’s and Children’s Services, arranged for Cleveland Regional Medical Center to receive the onesies. NCHSF Infant Safe Sleep Coordinator, Marta Pirzadeh, has been leading the hospital outreach effort.  “Hospital staff is provided many opportunities to educate new parents and model safe sleep behaviors,” says Pirzadeh. “We are thrilled that new parents will leave Cleveland Regional Medical Center with information to help their babies sleep safely once they get home.”  Since 2007, HOPES has provided infant safe sleep resources to more than 45 hospitals. This year, more than 9,000 babies are expected to leave hospitals with the onesies. For more information, visit www.NCHealthyStart.org or call 919.828.1819.


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