The Illinois State Police are recognizing October as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month, warning that sleep suffocation is the leading cause of reported child deaths in Illinois.
State police say hundreds of infants die each year because they are placed in unsafe sleeping environments. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, or SUID, affects families of all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds, the agency said.
ISP noted it is one of the lead investigators of child deaths in the state. Investigators serve on multiple Child Death Review Teams, which review the facts of each case and help develop methods to prevent similar deaths. The teams have found many unsafe sleep-related deaths were preventable.
"Many times when an infant dies, Illinois State Police officers who are part of a Child Death Review Team respond and see first-hand the tragedy of a preventable death," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. "Witnessing these heartbreaking deaths takes a toll on our officers and families, and is why ISP is promoting Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month."
Common unsafe sleep conditions include soft sleep surfaces, blankets and stuffed animals in the crib, unsupervised sleeping in car seats or infant swings, and co-sleeping with parents or siblings, according to the release.
Safe sleep practices
State police say the safest way for a baby to sleep is alone, on their back, and in either a crib or bassinet with tightly fitted sheets and free of pillows, bumpers, blankets or other items.
Adult beds, water beds, couches, chairs, pillows, quilts and other soft materials are not appropriate or safe for sleeping infants, ISP said.
"We know there are steps families and caregivers can take to help prevent infant deaths, and making sure they have clear, accessible information can help save lives," said Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Dulce M. Quintero. "Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month is a great opportunity to raise awareness and make sure families have the information they need to help keep babies safe."
Where to find help
The Illinois Department of Human Services' Infant Safe Sleep website offers parents, caregivers and childcare workers resources and best practices for creating a safe sleep environment. More information is available at the IDHS website.
Source: the original release