Infant Safe Sleeping Practices

 

  INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

 

Sheriff Lee Baca, ICAN Executive Director Deanne Tilton, Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Dr. Jonathon Fielding, Chief Medical Examiner Coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, Department of Children and Family Services Director Trish Ploehn, Task President of the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Carol Berkowitz and Public Affairs Director for First Five L. A. Carol Baker held a press conference on May 12, 2009 to discuss the countywide Infant Safe Sleeping Campaign. As the ICAN Chairperson, Sheriff Baca wanted to emphasize the increased number of infant fatalities related to parents who share beds with their infants or those who are placed in unsafe bedding. These tragedies are completely preventable and this campaign is designed to raise awareness within the County.

ICAN has reported that 80 percent of the infants who die are under the age of six. ICAN has been instrumental in reducing the number of child deaths due to auto accidents with the use of car seats, child drownings through pool fencing ordinances, and the implementation of the Safe Surrender Program. This campaign and the sharing of information on the potential hazards of unsafe sleeping can reduce these unnecessary tragedies.

"We understand that parents love their infants and may want to sleep with them, but these statistics prove that this is simply not safe," added Sheriff Baca.

SHB-61A-09                                                 X X X                                                May 13, 2009