The Florida Department of Health in Hernando County is continuing awareness, education and outreach efforts to parents and caregivers in an effort to reduce infant mortality in the community.

In Hernando County, the infant mortality rate for 2013-2015 is 7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births; for the state of Florida, this rate is 6.1 infant deaths per 1000.

Safe sleep

Until their first birthday, babies should sleep on their back for all sleep times- naps and at night. Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to suffocate and die of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.

To reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant death, Health Department Nursing Director Virginia Crandall, RN, shares the ABCs of safe sleep. Alone. On their Back. In a Crib.

Alone

"Babies should never go to sleep with anyone or practice co-sleeping, as this raises the risk for suffocation," Crandall explained. "The crib should also be free from toys, blankets, bumpers or any other items that may cause entrapment."

On their Back

Babies should be placed on their back to sleep. "According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some parents worry that if a baby vomits or spits up while on their back, he or she may choke," Crandall explained. "In addition, babies have a built-in mechanism to prevent that. The baby's airway anatomy and the gag reflex will keep that from happening."

"While the baby is on his or her back, if anything is regurgitated or spit up, it would have to go against gravity to be go into the windpipe (trachea)," she continued.

Once baby is comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy, tummy to back), then you do not have to return your baby to the back position.

In a Crib

Babies should be placed in a crib, bassinet or portable crib with a firm surface to sleep. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib so there are not any gaps or spaces between the mattress and the crib frame. Don’t let your baby sleep in his carrier or sling, car seat or stroller because babies who sleep in these items can suffocate.

Florida Healthy Babies

Outreach efforts are part of Florida Health Babies, a collaborative statewide initiative to reduce disparities in infant mortality by positively influencing the conditions in which people are born, grow, live work and age.

The Department works to decrease the number of babies born exposed to harmful substances in utero, improve safe sleep habits, promote the use of a depression scale to better identify and help women experiencing perinatal depression and increase breastfeeding.

The next Florida Healthy Babies- Hernando County meeting will be held January 16, 2018, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Spring Hill office, 7551 Forest Oaks Blvd.  Anyone interested in this topic is welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Candi Cook, (352) 540-6800 ext. 82153 or Candi.Cook@flhealth.gov.

 About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.