Say YES to Safe Sleep

Sadly, and somewhat surprisingly, unsafe infant sleep is the leading cause of death for infants one month to 12 months old in West Virginia. A baby dies every 10 days in WV due to accidental suffocation or strangulation when parents co-sleep with their babies or have their babies sleep on couches, recliners, beds or other adult furniture that is unsafe for babies.

To help address this issue, we launched the Our Babies: Safe & Sound campaign last year.  The campaign now includes over 125 community organizations across WV, who are sharing posters, brochures and other information with parents and caregivers of infants.

More than 75,000 materials have been shared across the state in the past 14 months.  We also have public service announcements airing statewide through a partnership with the WV Broadcasters Association.

Our latest update to the campaign is this new 5 minute Say YES to Safe Sleep video based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video, which features the most awesome pediatrician, Dr. Hana Zibdeh-Lough, describing how pediatricians recommend that you help your baby sleep safely.

Take a look at the video and share it with others.  Then head over to our website at http://www.safesoundbabies.com for more information and order some free materials.




Thanks also to the great folks at The Manahan Group and Morgado Design for helping us produce a great video.  Many thanks also to the West Virginia Children's Trust Fund and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation for funding the campaign.

Help babies in West Virginia grow up safe and sound -- say YES to safe sleep!