Press Date: 07/26/2010

Distribution of more than 6,500 wearable blankets this year aims to reduce risk of infant-related sleep deaths

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Riverside Methodist Hospital recently began distributing free sleep sacks for every baby in its well baby nursery as part of its Safe Sleep initiative to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other infant-related sleep deaths.

Beginning July 22, each new arrival will leave Riverside Methodist with a Halo SleepSack, a wearable blanket that replaces dangerous loose bedding in the crib that can cause accidental suffocations. More than 6,500 babies are born at Riverside Methodist Hospital each year.

"The babies zip into these sacks to stay warm and comfortable without having blankets in the crib that can suffocate babies if they roll over," said Linda Newhouse, MSN, RNC, WHNP, education and advance practice nurse for Women's Health Services. "The tragedy of these rollover deaths is that they are entirely preventable."

The giveaway is part of a broader effort begun in 2007 by the Riverside Methodist nursing staff to practice and promote safe sleeping positions and environments for newborns. Nearly 3,000 babies in the United States die unexpectedly in their sleep each year. Riverside Methodist launched its Safe Sleep initiative after participating on a countywide task force formed in response to 57 infant-related deaths in Franklin County between 2000 and 2003.

As a result, Riverside Methodist nursery adopted a "back to sleep" policy that placed babies on their backs instead of their sides. Nurses began removing blankets and toys from bassinets and educating families about safe sleep practices.

"We know that the safest way for babies to sleep is alone in their cribs, on their backs, without blankets, toys or side bumpers," Newhouse said. "In six months, we changed the entire culture of the hospital to employ these practices, with our nurses serving as powerful role models."

It is especially important for parents to insist that grandparents and other loving relatives and caregivers place babies on their backs because "the risk of SIDS is 18 times higher among babies who are placed on their stomachs after they have become accustomed to sleeping on their backs," Newhouse said.

Although hospitals throughout the county and state have instituted Safe Sleep practices and education, Riverside Methodist is one of the few that is giving away the infant sleep sacks. The sacks are also available for sale in the Riverside Women's Boutique. "It's just one more thing we can do for our families to make sure their babies are healthy, happy and safe," said Marie Cooper, RNC-LRN, BSN, MBA, nurse manager of the Family Care Unit.

Riverside Women's Health Services
Riverside Methodist Hospital is a leader in maternity care, which is why more than 6,500 babies were born at Riverside Methodist last year. As a Level III maternity center, Riverside Methodist's experienced team of physicians and nurses cares for any woman - regardless of risk level - during pregnancy and during and after delivery. Riverside Methodist's comprehensive offerings include Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Riverside for expectant mothers with high-risk pregnancies; a dedicated unit for women with high-risk pregnancies who need to be hospitalized; private home-like birthing suites; state-of-the-art technology; a Newborn Intensive Care Unit operated by Nationwide Children's Hospital; and outpatient lactation services, education and support for expectant and new parents at the Riverside Women's Center.

Riverside Methodist Hospital
Riverside Methodist Hospital is a member of OhioHealth, a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit charitable, healthcare organization serving and supported by the community that was named by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a family of 18 hospitals, 23 health and surgery centers, home-health providers, medical equipment and health service suppliers throughout a 40-county area. OhioHealth hospitals in central Ohio are Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital and Dublin Methodist Hospital. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.OhioHealth.com.

-30-

For more information, please contact Christina Fitzer, Media Relations Manager, Riverside Methodist Hospital at cfitzer@ohiohealth.com or (614) 566-4517.