Campaign against SIDS needs support
By Eleanor E. Greene
The following is a Counterpoint.
I was saddened to read Joy Brightwell's "Let's Spread the Word on SIDS" article (Dec. 17, Guilford Record) and to learn that her grandson died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Unfortunately, her family is not alone. Last year, SIDS claimed the lives of 105 North Carolina babies, seven in Guilford County.
I support Ms. Brightwell's plea for better SIDS education by physicians, nurses, and hospitals and for an informed public. The N. C. "Back to Sleep" campaign, a partnership between the N.C. Division of Public Health and the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, promotes infant safe-sleep and SIDS risk-reduction strategies like putting babies on their backs to sleep and creating clutter-free and smoke-free sleep environments.
Understandably, families who experience SIDS seek answers or products to prevent these deaths. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions that home monitoring devices should not be used as a strategy to reduce SIDS and families should avoid commercially marketed devices.
Ms. Brightwell's call to action is timely. Later this month, the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force plans to ask the General Assembly to appropriate funds for a statewide safe-sleep and SIDS risk-reduction campaign. All Guilford County citizens should voice their support for this initiative.
Dr. Eleanor E. Greene, M.D., M.P.H., lives in High Point and is secretary, Board of Directors, the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation.