Kern Medical Launches a Comprehensive Safe Sleep Campaign to Decrease the Incidence of SUIDs in Kern County

Bakersfield, Calif. – Feb. 9, 2016 – Kern Medical today announces the launch of its Safe Sleep Campaign to decrease rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) in Kern County. Kern Medical’s mission is to educate all new parents in the county on how to provide a safe sleeping environment for their infant.

SUID is a broad category that describes deaths in infants under one year of age that have no immediate, obvious cause. They include Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), in which no cause can be determined even after careful study, and accidental strangulation and suffocation in bed. SUID is the leading cause of death among babies 1 to 12 months old, and 90 percent occur before 6 months.

“We want to lead a new effort to combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths in our community,” said Russell Judd, CEO of Kern Medical. “We launched this initiative because county research shows a year-over-year rise in infant deaths. Kern Medical is committed to help prevent the loss of previous lives.”

Kern Medical will provide a portable crib, the fundamental safe-sleep environment, to every new mom who delivers her baby at Kern Medical that needs one after filling out a survey assessing sleep safety readiness and watching a short educational video. Moms who deliver elsewhere can also participate by calling in, filling out a form, showing the baby’s birth certificate and watching the short educational video.

All new moms, families and caregivers should follow the ABC’s of safe sleep.

• A is for alone. Infants need to sleep alone. Set up the infant’s sleeping area near mom, but NOT in the same bed.
• B is for back. Infants are safest when they sleep on their backs. This reduces their risk of suffocation.
• C is for crib. Babies should sleep in their own crib, on a firm mattress with a tightly fitted bottom sheet. No blankets or quilts or comforters. Sleepwear provides enough insulation. No crib bumpers or toys.

To learn more about Kern Medical’s crib giveaway and Safe Sleep Campaign, visit KernMedical.com/safebabies or call 661.326.2606.

About Kern Medical

Kern Medical serves as Kern County’s only trauma center and provides all members of the community access to basic and specialty care through a network of clinics, physicians and affiliated medical groups.  It is the area’s only academic training hospital and has an affiliation with the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.  In addition to its main campus, it operates outpatient clinics on Columbus Street, Truxtun Avenue, and Stockdale Highway for nearly 160,000 patients each year.

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Media Contact:
Carrie Weiss
carrie@amfmediagroup.com