Safe Sleep Video

Media Contacts:
Gisgie Dávila Gendreau, DHS marketing and public relations director, 517-373-7394
James McCurtis, Jr., DCH public information officer, 517-241-2112

Sept. 15, 2009

With the purpose of protecting the state's youngest citizens, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed September as Infant Safe Sleep Month.

State and local leaders shared safe sleep practices during a Capitol event Tuesday marking the third annual observance of Infant Safe Sleep Month in Michigan.

"Michigan's children are our state's most valuable resource," said Michigan Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed, "and protecting them from harm is an important part of our department's mission. Infant Safe Sleep Month provides an opportunity to remind all parents and other caregivers to check infants' sleeping environments to prevent needless tragedies. We especially want everyone to know that the safest sleeping environment for babies is alone on their backs in an empty crib with a tightly fitted sheet."

Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski said, "Most infant deaths are attributable to unsafe sleep environments and we have to work hard to reverse this. We are committed to educating parents and caregivers on safety guidelines that will help protect their infant. Parents and caregivers must hear a consistent safe sleep message ? from physicians, from nurses, at hospitals, at daycare, at school, at work, in stores ? everywhere and in every language."

Joining the directors of the two departments at the Infant Safe Sleep Month event were Lindy Buch, Michigan Department of Education early childhood director; Sandra Frank, Tomorrow's Child executive director; and Dr. Stephen Guertin, Sparrow Regional Children's Center medical director.

"Because parents don't always understand the connection between the infant safe sleep guidelines and the potential tragic consequences of not following them," Michigan Public Health Institute Child Death Review project director Heidi Hilliard noted, "it is imperative that we all work together to educate families on the importance of this issue, to keep babies safe."

An infant death has a devastating impact on the family and community, Frank added.

"We strongly promote Infant Safe Sleep with the hope that, someday, families will never have to suffer the loss of a precious baby," she said.

Forty-seven sleeping-related infant deaths were investigated by DHS Children's Protective Services workers in 2008. About 45 such deaths have been reported annually for the past five years.

To review the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines, or for additional information, visit the safe sleep Web site.