Safe Sleeping Saves Infants’ Lives
Los Angeles Launches New Campaign

A report recently released by the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) indicates that according to the Los Angeles County Coroner, in 2006 and 2007 86 infants under the age of one died from suffocation while sharing a bed with an sibling, parent or other adult. In 2007, 80% were under the age of 6 months and 59% were under the age of 3 months.

In February 2009, the National Centers for Disease Control reported a four fold increase in the rate of infant death during the past twenty years due to a rise in the number of babies who share a bed with their parents. Unsafe bedding, pillows, blankets were also cited as risk factors.

On May 12, 2009, in response to the alarming increase in numbers of infant deaths related to co-sleeping, Los Angeles County launched the Safe Sleeping Campaign to Save Infants’ Lives. The campaign is sponsored by Sheriff Leroy D. Baca, ICAN and ICAN Associates, First5LA, Department of Children and Family Services and Department of Public Health.

On June 19, 2009, Councilmember Richard Alarcon introduced a motion to declare “Safe Sleeping Day 2009” in the city of Los Angeles.

ICAN, First5 LA and the Department of Public Health are working together to distribute over 300.000 Safe Sleeping pamphlets, both in English and Spanish, across Los Angeles County.

Please click here to access the Safe Sleeping pamphlet, view the video clip of the Los Angeles City Council presentation on June 19, and to find a wealth of information and resources on Safe Sleeping.