Public Health

     Public health measures have addressed many concerns over the years, but one in particular stands our for me.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is unique in that the cause is unknown.  There are several risk factors that seem to contribute to SIDS, but no one cause has been determined.  It is defined as  the unexplained death usually during sleep of a seemingly healthy baby.  While all babies are vulnerable, some factors have been linked to an increased risk such as sex, age, race, and sleeping patterns.  Researchers have found that baby boys are more likely to die of SIDS than baby girls; infants are more vulnerable during their second and third months of life; Black, American Indian or Eskimo infants are more likely to die of SIDS; and infants who sleep in the same bed with their parents are more likely to die of SIDS (Mayo Clinic Staff).  In a 2005 study of developed countries, the US had the second highest SIDS rate after New Zealand among 13 countries (SIDScenter.org.)  The lowest rates were in the Netherlands and Japan.  In 1990, New Zealand had a SIDS rate of 2.9 per 1000 live births.  By 2005, this number dropped to .8 (SIDScenter.org.).  This can be attributed to a New Zealand mattress wrapping campaign where mattresses where wrapped with special palyethelene covers since a link was shown between SIDS and the toxic fumes emitted by mattresses.  Statistics show that the ratio of SIDS continues to increase with the use of unwrapped mattresses while no deaths have been reported with the use of the wrapped mattresses.  The results of this program far exceed the results of any other SIDS prevention program in the world! (Pathways Magazine, June 2007).
     I feel this information is important in the Early Childhood Field because we have a responsibility to be advocates.  We need to educate our families about prevention measures to ensure the safest possible environment for our children. 

References
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/DS00145

http://www.sidscenter.org/Statistics.html

Pathways Magazine, (2007, June 1).  The Outer Womb. New Zealand SIDS Death Rate Decreases,
    14.  retrieved from http://www.icpa4kids.org/