NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Receives National Recognition for Support of Infant Safe Sleep Practices
Aug 10, 2018
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County announced today that the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program has recognized the hospital with a bronze certification for its commitment to the support and promotion of infant safe sleep best practices and education.
“Receiving certification for safe sleep is a significant accomplishment,” said Sheldon P. McLeod, chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “Our Women’s Services team worked tirelessly and played a critical role in this achievement. I am proud of their commitment to the reduction of infant mortality and to providing the best patient experience and safe sleep outcomes for mothers and families in Central Brooklyn and beyond.”
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to the prevention of infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation.
In addition to being designated a Cribs for Kids® partner, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County was recognized for following safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and providing training programs for parents, staff, and the community.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County encourages parents to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on creating a safe sleep environment for babies. Here are a few guidelines:
- Place baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface, such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
- Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
- Babies should share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns one, but at least for the first six months. Room-sharing decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50 percent.
- Avoid baby’s exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
To further support safe sleep practice, all new mothers in need receive a Graco® Pack ‘n Play® portable crib that provides a safe sleep surface. The crib can be used until a child weighs 30 pounds, which is the average weight of a one year old.
“Our hospital is committed to helping mothers and families create a safe sleep environment for their baby, both in the hospital and when they return home,” said Wendy C. Wilcox, MD, chairwoman of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health. “Receiving this certification demonstrates our steadfast commitment to patient safety and quality care.”
“Receiving the certification for safe sleep is a noteworthy recognition for NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County,” said Ivan Hand, MD, director of Neonatology. “It is truly a reflection of the quality care and education our Women’s Services team provides for our patients every day on the importance of safe sleep practices.”
“Sleep-related death results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”
In addition to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County’s bronze certification, other New York City public hospitals that are Safe Sleep-certified by Cribs for Kids® are NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan (in Manhattan); NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (in the Bronx); NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island and NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull (in Brooklyn); and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens (in Queens).
For more information about Labor and Delivery services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, visit /kingscounty/our-services/womens-health-services/ or call 718-245-4570.