house resolution no.144
Reps. Garrett, Byrd, Neeley, Yancey, Gay-Dagnogo, Witwer, Wittenberg, Anthony, Hoadley, Bolden, Pohutsky, Rabhi, LaGrand, Calley, Pagan, Ellison, Sowerby, Brixie, Kennedy, Brenda Carter, Stone, Hood, Robinson, Tyrone Carter, Manoogian, Cambensy, Allor, Garza, Liberati, Love, Sneller, and Warren offered the following resolution:
Whereas, Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Week calls attention to the fact that with proper safe sleep steps, preventable infant deaths can be avoided; and
Whereas, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, or SUID, is the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year of age; and
Whereas, According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3,500 babies in the United States are lost to sleep-related deaths each year; and
Whereas, In 2015, 159 infants in the state of Michigan died due to sudden unexpected infant deaths. This means that a baby dies nearly every other day in Michigan in an unsafe sleeping environment. Evidence suggests that these deaths are overwhelmingly preventable. The risk factors for sudden unexpected infant death can be mitigated by reducing the baby’s exposure to smoke and unsafe sleep practices; and
Whereas, Many parents practice unsafe sleeping habits with their infant because they are unaware of the dangers of SUID. Babies are needlessly dying because of unsafe sleeping environments, such as couches and adult beds, or sleep areas with other children, adults, pets, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or other toys; and
Whereas, There are seven simple steps one should take to ensure babies sleep in a safe environment. These steps are: the baby always sleeps alone in a crib; the baby sleeps on his or her back; there is nothing in the baby’s sleep area; the baby’s face is uncovered; there is no smoking around the baby; the baby is not overheated or overdressed; the baby must sleep on a firm mattress with a tight-fitting sheet; and
Whereas, Our state is fortunate to have many public and private partners working together to protect children and ensure infants are safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommend placing infants in a safe sleeping environment to help significantly reduce sudden unexpected death; and
Whereas, Parents should gain a broader understanding of safe sleep practices and the risk factors associated with SUID and share that information with others. A broader understanding of safe sleep practices by parents in the state of Michigan will help prevent nearly 150 infant deaths in Michigan per year; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 1-7, 2019, as Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Week in the state of Michigan. We aim to promote awareness of sudden unexpected infant death and safe sleep practices.