LANSING, Mich. — Six West Michigan emergency response agencies are now certified in safe sleep practices.
In 2022, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched a program to train emergency responders on safe sleep practices. Those agencies often interact with families and remove hazards from the environment for the sleeping child.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department was the first department to receive the certification back in July 2022. Four more agencies have since become certified in Kent County, working with the Kent County Health Department's Infant Safe Sleep Program.
Caledonia Fire Department, Plainfield Fire Department, Wyoming Fire Department, Alpine Township Fire Department and Coopersville/Polkton Fire Department have also been certified.
"By empowering first responders to be proactive and part of prevention, I believe that we're very well positioned to have a pretty significant difference when it comes to preventing mortality, especially for vulnerable populations like infants," said Dr. Samantha Mishra, EMS for Children coordinator with MDHHS.
"So, in the case of the Infant Safe Sleep Program, we teach them things to look for in a home that would suggest an infant lives there, maybe to ask a question or two about where they sleep, and then provide the guidance to help promote safe sleep to happen every point from that moment on," Dr. Mishra added.
Statewide, 17 emergency medical service agencies and fire departments have become certified since the program launched in 2022. According to MDHHS, more than 800 providers have been trained, and more than 160 families have been reached.
Each department or agency has an appointed pediatric champion for the program. The champion then brings all their resources and training to all individuals in the department.
They will also have resources and policies in place to connect families that need a safe space for an infant to sleep to acquire one.
Safe sleep for infants includes simple steps, both for naps and night time. According to MDHHS and The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should always be put to sleep on their backs. They should be in their own sleep space, like a crib, bassinet or pack and play with a firm mattress.
There should be no clutter in the sleeping space, including pillow, blankets or stuffed animals. Room sharing is encouraged, but baby should share the room, not the bed, and have his or her own space.
"By placing a child to sleep safely, we know that they are going to have that opportunity to wake up alive," said Dr. Mishra.
According to AAP, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is the leading cause of injury death for infants. Following safe sleep recommendations can prevent many of those fatalities.
“Since becoming Safe Sleep certified, the Grand Rapids Fire Department has performed more than 35 safe sleep interventions, allowing our members to leave behind informational packets, correct unsafe sleep practices and connect families to needed resources via our outstanding partners at the Kent County Health Department," said Grand Rapids Fire Department Lieutenant Jim Betz in a press release.
In the 1990s, AAP and other organizations began to recommend putting babies to sleep on their backs. Rates of infant deaths declined significantly, however, it is still a problem to this day. Black and Native American infants die more than double the rates of white babies from SUID.
RELATED VIDEO: Poll shows voters support working parents tax cut
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.