Reno, Nev. Sept. 30, 2021. October is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Unsafe sleep practices are one of the leading causes of death among otherwise healthy infants under the age of one in Washoe County. There have been 20 infant deaths in Washoe County from 2017 to 2021, all due to unsafe sleep situations.
The Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA), Washoe County Health District (WCHD) and the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office are working together throughout October to remind the community about the importance of using safe sleep practices when putting an infant to sleep.
Health officials ask that anyone caring for an infant, remembers the ABCs of safe sleep. When putting an infant down, always have the infant Alone, on its Back and in a Crib.
The infant safe sleep awareness community outreach campaign will reach the community in several strategic ways:
- Billboard campaign, courtesy of Lamar Advertising.
- Regional Transportation Commission bus wraps.
- TV and social media public service announcements.
“Infant unsafe sleep deaths are tragic and happen far too often in our community. We hope the variety of messages we publish over the next several months will remind the community how important it is to put your baby to sleep safely,” said HSA Children’s Division Director Ryan Gustafson. “Most infant safe sleep deaths are avoidable. Don’t co-sleep with your infant. Do not put baby to sleep with stuffed animals or on a bed and couch with pillows. Under the age of one, babies can easily suffocate because their neck muscles aren’t developed enough to move their head on their own if need be.”
Join HSA in raising awareness about the importance of infant safe sleep by using #InfantSafeSleep. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
# # #
