Sept. 5, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has declared September as Infant Safe Sleep Month in Michigan to help stem the growing tide of deaths caused by infants sleeping in unsafe environments.

"A baby's life depends on a safe sleep environment," said Kathryne O'Grady, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. "Parents, grandparents and day care providers can prevent hundreds of tragedies every year by following simple safe sleep guidelines." The Michigan Department of Human Services recommends measures to ensure safe sleeping on a new Web site www.michigan.gov/safesleepincluding the following:

• Babies should sleep alone in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and tightly fitted sheet.
• Babies should sleeps on their backs even when they can roll over.
• No soft objects, blankets or bumper pads should be placed in the crib.
• Babies should be kept warm using sleep clothing rather than blankets.
• Babies must sleep in a smoke-free environment.

The Michigan Child Death State Advisory Team reviewed 253 infant deaths in 2002 and 2003 for sleeping environments. This included 105 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths, 94 infant suffocations and 54 deaths of undetermined causes. These statistics show that unsafe sleep environments were common in these deaths:

• 84 percent of these infants were not sleeping in cribs.
• 48 percent were in soft or heavy bedding.
• 52 percent were sharing their sleeping space with one or more persons.
• When looking at the SIDS deaths, only 32 percent of the infants were sleeping on their backs.

Officials estimate that a child dies every week in Michigan due to unsafe sleep practices.

Recently, Wayne County officials reported that five babies died in just two days in July while sleeping in their parents' beds. Wayne County officials estimate that as many as 30 infants have died in their county since January of 2007 due to unsafe sleep practices. In 2006, 50 such deaths occurred in Wayne County and, in 2005, the total was 44.

"These are not just statistics," said Sandra Frank, executive director of Tomorrow's Child. "A baby's death absolutely devastates the family, and the loss to the community is immeasurable."

Along with the Web site, instructional DVDs, posters, brochures and public service announcements are being used to educate parents and caregivers. An interagency team, including Tomorrow's Child, the Michigan Public Health Institute and the state departments of Human Services, Community Health and Education, has pooled resources to help stem the growing number of infant deaths.

"Michigan is fortunate to have many public and private partners at both the state and local levels working together to protect children," state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said. "Through these partnerships, lasting differences can be made in the lives of children and families."

For more information go to www.michigan.gov/dhs or www.michigan.gov/safesleep