In celebration of Mother’s Day and National Nurses Week, Tucson nurses in partnership with the Pima County Health Department, the University of Arizona (UA) College of Nursing, and the National Institute of Health (NIH) “Safe to Sleep” public health campaign, want to remind parents of the ABCs of safe infant sleep. Babies should always sleep: A –alone, B – on their backs, and C – in a safe and empty crib. A-B-C: Always and without exception! 
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in infants between the age of 1 and 12 months. Every year in the United States approximately 3,750 otherwise healthy babies die of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. The exact cause of SIDS remains unclear. However,most of these deaths are now considered preventable.
WHAT: Safe sleeping practices and the“Safe to Sleep” campaign will be the topic of discussion for maternal-newborn nurses, “Fab-Fifty” recipient Karen Owen, BSN, RNC and SIDS expert and author Sharon Hitchcock MSN, RNC
WHEN: Friday, May 10, 2:45 p.m.- 3:45p.m.
WHERE: Starr Pass Resort and Spa, atthe 2013 Nurses Week Showcase of Nurses Conference
In 1994,the NIH initiated the “Back to Sleep” campaign to educate parents and caregivers about the recommendation to place babies on their backs to sleep. The new “Safe to Sleep” message incorporates the many other strategies research has shown to greatly reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.
Nurses play a critical role in educating parents and caregivers in how to greatly reduce the risk of SIDS and other infant sleep-related deaths. The goal is to equip Tucson nurses with evidence-based research on safe sleep practices, and provide strategies to get the word out to the public. Understanding the research and rationale behind each preventative measure will equip and empower nurses to correctly educate all caregivers and inevitably save countless precious young lives.
Safe to Sleep “Champion” Carol Baker, BSN, RN from the Pima County Health Department and Connie Miller MSN, RNC-OB, Clinical Assistant Professor at the UA College of Nursing, will also be available for questions.