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Infants at higher risk for SIDS during the winter months
01/13/2009
Although the number of infants dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the United States has been declining over the last few years, the First Candle National Crib Campaign/Indiana wants parents to know that babies are at a higher risk of dying from SIDS during the winter months. First Candle is a national nonprofit health organization promoting infant health and survival.
“During the cold, winter months, parents tend to place blankets and/or extra clothes on their infant in hopes of providing extra warmth. These extra layers, or overwrapping, can cause infants to overheat or interfere with breathing, which can increase the risk for SIDS,” said Deborah Givan, MD, pediatric pulomonologist, Riley Hospital for Children and Chair, SIDS Council Advisory Board, Indiana State Department of Health.
According to an October 2008 report published by the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, infants who sleep in rooms ventilated by fans have a 72 percent lower risk of SIDS.
“In the winter months, a ceiling fan serves two purposes. First, it improves the ventilation in your baby’s room, and second, it can help save on your heating bills,” said Barb Johnson, project director, First Candle National Crib Campaign/Indiana.
To help circulate the warm air in the winter months, set the fan to run clockwise, which looks counterclockwise as you’re looking up. This will redirect the warm air from the ceiling and down the walls and into the living space. Be sure to run the fan at low speed to prevent cooling the warm air being circulated.
The temperature in an infant’s room should never exceed 73 degrees.
“Parents need to know that if a room is comfortable for them, it’s comfortable enough for their baby,” continued Johnson.
SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant under one year old. SIDS claims the lives of approximately 2,500 infants each year and is the leading cause of postneonatal death in the U.S.
Johnson offered additional tips to reduce the risk of SIDS:
For more information, please visit Bedtime Basics, a program of the First Candle National Crib Campaign, at www.firstcandle.org/bedtimebasics.
CONTACT:
Margie Smith-Simmons
317.962.4085 (o)
317.312.4348 (p)
msmithsi@clarian.org
About Riley Hospital for Children As one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana’s first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital’s partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana’s children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit www.rileychildrenshospital.com for more information.
CONTACT:
Margie Smith-Simmons
317.962.4085 (o)
317.312.4348 (p)
msmithsi@clarian.org