Parents never consider the thought of burying their infant, but for Barb Himes it was her reality.
“My husband and I awoke on Christmas Eve morning in 1981 and found out our two month old son had died sometime throughout the night,” said Himes coordinator and co-project director of First Candle National Crib Campaign.
Himes infant died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Her son was sleeping on his stomach, which was the recommended sleeping practice at the time. Other unsafe sleeping practices that may lead to SIDS include babies sleeping in a parent’s bed, couch, or cluttered crib.
Himes recalled when she was pregnant with her son she read an article of how a family lost their baby due to SIDS and her heart ached for the family’s misfortune. However, she folded up the newspaper, laid it on her couch and went to bed without thinking the information could be something to apply.
“I thought it was something you read about in newspapers. I didn’t think it would happen to me,” Himes added.
In the first four months of 2009, Marion County has seen 12 infants die from SIDS. Candle’s Web site reveals that the disease remains to be the No. 1 cause of death among infant’s ages one month to one year of age. SIDS claims the lives of 2,000 babies every year, which is seven babies a day. Studies show the risks of SIDS double for African-American infants.
“(SIDS) was getting little attention because people didn’t know about it, they didn’t understand it and they didn’t believe it,” said Dr. Hibbard professor of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children and chair of the Marion County Child Fatality Review Team. “Before everyone was told to put their baby to sleep on their tummy. We didn’t know that sleeping on your tummy was a risk factor that could result in death to the infant.”
Now more than ever research and education are available for new and expectant parents to prevent SIDS from happening to their child. First Candle is an organization that is trying to reduce the death rate among infants as a result of SIDS. Through different seminars, health fairs and other various activities First Candle is battling against this silent killer.
“It gives us more of a sense of urgency because whatever (First Candle) is doing is not enough. We are not reaching enough people,” said Barb Johnson co-director of First Candle.
Himes adds that although this information may be pertinent, society is still not ready to discuss the sensitive topic of babies dying.
“It’s a scary time for new parents and sometimes people feel like we shouldn’t bring this subject up. But this is information every parent needs to know, so this doesn’t happen to their infant,” Himes said.
Most parents think the closer their baby is to them the more comfortable their child will be, but in fact the results may be deadly. Hibbard recalled a parent that never slept with her child until one day the baby had a cold.
“She said, ‘I wanted my baby to be closer to me,’ that was the first time ever she put the baby in her bed, on her pillow and the baby didn’t wake up the next morning. If she would have left her baby in his the crib she would’ve likely not had a problem,” added Hibbard.
The development of SIDS is rising quickly and Johnson explained it may never end, but at least First Candle can try to diminish this disease as much as possible.
“We can’t control or cure (SIDS) but we can reduce it,” Johnson said. “One baby is too many, especially if it’s your baby.”
For more information call (800) 221-7437,email at info@firstcandle.org or visit www.firstcandle.org.
