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Our Safe Sleep program addresses preventable infant deaths caused by unsafe sleep practices. Each year, more children in Washtenaw County die of poor sleep environments than any other cause, except for prematurity and birth defects.
To address the problem of unsafe sleep in our County, we have initiated a public awareness/education campaign aimed at parents, caregivers and those who work with infants and families called WISSH (Washtenaw Infants Sleep Safer Here). We are calling for volunteers to become involved with a Safe Sleep Coalition to help us with this campaign and community outreach. To become part of the Coalition, please click here for a form to fill out and either mail to us or send as an attachment.
In February 2007, we released a "Safer Sleep for Your Baby" DVD. To order the DVD, schedule a Safer Sleep training or for more Safer Sleep information, please click here
Facts about Preventable Infant Deaths in Washtenaw County and Michigan:
- Each year, in Washtenaw County, more infants die of poor sleep environments than any other cause, except for prematurity and birth defects.
- Unsafe sleep practices cause more than 100 infant deaths per year in Michigan.
- In December 2005, the Washtenaw County Coalition for Infant Mortality Reduction announced its 2006 Project Plan for Washtenaw County, which includes a Safe Sleep Initiative. Washtenaw Area Council for Children is the lead agency in this initiative. For a link to the Coalition for Infant Mortality Reduction and a copy of our Safer Sleep for Infants PowerPoint, please click here.
Infants are at greater risk of death when they are put to sleep in these ways:
- In positions other than on their back
- On soft mattress or mattress that doesn't fit firmly in crib
- On sofas, or adult beds with soft bedding
- With, near or on loose objects like blankets or pillows
- Over dressed, or in rooms that are over-heated
- With others, co-sleeping, in the same bed
Links to Important Information for Parents and Caregivers
More Information on Safe Sleep
In October 2005, The American Academy of Pediatrics revised their previous policy on safe sleep practices. For a copy of their Safe Sleep Statement, please click here.
In April 2005, The Michigan Children's Cabinet Infant Safe Sleep Task Force released guidelines that the state believes -- if followed -- will significantly reduce Michigan's infant mortality rate by cutting down on accidental suffocations. To see those guidelines, please click here.
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