First Lady Sue Snyder applauds Detroit Medical Center's efforts to advance safe sleep practices

Contact:
Bob Wheaton (517) 373-4287, (517) 281-1701,
wheatonb@michigan.gov
Michigan Department of Human Services

Jen Smith (517) 241-2112,
smithj32@michigan.gov
Michigan Department of Community Health

Sara Wurfel, Dave Murray (517) 335-6397,
wurfels@michigan.gov, murrayd1@michigan.gov
Governor’s Office

Sarah Collica (248) 459-4669,
scollica@dmc.org
Detroit Medical Center

Departments of Human Services and Community Health launch partnership with hospital to reduce infant deaths due to unsafe sleep environments

DETROIT, MICH. Sept. 4, 2014 — Michigan First Lady Sue Snyder today praised collaborative efforts between the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and the Michigan Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Community Health (MDCH) to raise awareness of the dangers of unsafe sleep practices with new parents. The collaboration goes beyond requirements of the new Michigan Infant Safe Sleep Act signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in May.

The safe sleep partnership was announced today at DMC’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan Detroit Specialty Center. About 140 Michigan babies die annually due to unsafe sleep environments. Health providers have emphasized these deaths are 100 percent preventable.

The new state law requires hospitals and health professionals to provide parents readily available information and educational materials such as a brochures or educational video regarding infant safe sleep practices following the birth of a child. DMC is implementing an even more engaging approach, with hospital staff actively involved in discussing the importance of safe sleep with parents of newborns.

“I’m honored to stand with so many others in support of such an important cause,” said Sue Snyder, who has been a strong advocate for safe sleep as first lady. “Together, we’ve made progress toward ensuring no little ones in Michigan are lost too soon, but there is always more that can be done. I thank all involved for their efforts to continue informing parents and caregivers so no families have to experience a tragedy and loss like this.”

Unsafe sleep infant deaths are due to suffocation as a result of unsafe sleep environments. To keep babies safe, parents and caregivers must: 

• Never put the baby to sleep with adults or other children, as this practice exponentially increases the chance of a tragedy. 
• Put babies in cribs of their own – never on adult beds, pillows or couches. 
• Ensure that the crib does not contain extraneous items, including pillows, crib bumpers and stuffed animals, and use a safe sleep sack instead of blankets. 
• Place the baby to sleep on his/her back, not on the stomach or side. 
• Not overheat the baby. 

• Make certain that no one smokes around the baby.

“It’s hard to believe we see on average more than 50 infant deaths annually in Detroit and the surrounding metro Detroit area from unsafe sleep, ” said Dr. Herman Gray, DMC executive vice president, Pediatric Health Services. It is critical that parents in our communities receive the education they need to better understand how to practice safe sleep with their babies.

“Suffocation due to unsafe sleep is 100 percent preventable and the DMC, along with the efforts the state is making, will continue to expand our education provided onsite to help spread awareness around this important health risk.”

In addition to Gray, the first lady was joined today by DHS Chief Deputy Director Duane Berger and MDCH Chief Deputy Director Nick Lyon.

Berger said DMC joins Beaumont Health System of metro Detroit and Munson Medical Center of Traverse City in safe sleep partnerships with the state. “We expect other hospitals in Michigan to join us in this important endeavor,” Berger said. “It’s crucial that we make parents of newborns aware of the dangers of unsafe sleep, and our hospitals are in a great position to do so.”

Lyon said: “Every three days a baby in Michigan dies because they were put to sleep in an unsafe sleep environment. Together, we can end these entirely preventable deaths. Efforts that go above and beyond such as those by the Detroit Medical Center and our other healthcare partners across the state are a tremendous step in the right direction toward making sure our parents and caregivers have the information they need and saving lives.”

A video about infant safe sleep is available on Michigan’s Safe Sleep website, www.michigan.gov/safesleep. Information about safe sleep is also available at local health departments and DHS offices.