Important Facts for Sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)

Definition

[https://www.cdc.gov/sids/about/index.htm#:~:text=Sudden%20unexpected%20infant%20death%20(SUID,in%20the%20baby's%20sleep%20area. Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)] is a term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a child less than 1 year of age in which the cause was not obvious. Sleep-related SUID happen during sleep or in the baby's sleep area and account for the vast majority of SUID cases.

Numerator

The number of sleep-related sudden unexpected infant deaths and, for comparison, the total number of sudden unexpected infant deaths in Utah.

Denominator

The total number of infants in Utah.

Why Is This Important?

Around the same number of infants die from SUID each year as 18-year-olds die from ALL types of injury deaths (suicide, motor vehicle, poisoning, drowning, falls, etc.) and 18-year-olds die more from injury deaths than other child age groups. Sudden unexpected infant deaths include sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation in a sleeping environment, and other deaths from unknown causes. It is well understood that a large percentage of these deaths are preventable even while some research might point toward problems present in the area of an infant's brain that controls breathing and waking up from sleep. The [https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm success in the 90s of the Back to Sleep campaign] is an excellent example of how promoting [https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022?autologincheck=redirected the American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep recommendations] can help save the lives of infants.

Healthy People Objective MICH-1.9:

Infant deaths from sudden unexpected infant deaths (includes SIDS, unknown cause, accidental suffocation, and strangulation in bed)
U.S. target: 0.84 infant deaths per 1,000 live births

How Are We Doing?

There has not been any significant change in the rate of SUID since the successes of the '90s Back to Sleep Campaigns, but with better data to inform prevention Utah is hoping to move the needle once again.

Evidence-based Practices

[https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304/Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths-Updated-2022?autologincheck=redirected 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep Recommendations] [https://www.cdc.gov/sids/Parents-Caregivers.htm#print CDC Safe Sleep Resources] - Learn what parents and caregivers can do to help babies sleep safely. [https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/ Safe to Sleep] - CDC collaborates with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in its Safe to Sleep campaign, formerly known as the Back to Sleep campaign. The Safe to Sleep campaign has outreach activities to spread safe sleep messages and educational materials about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. [https://cribsforkids.org/ Cribs for Kids] - Cribs for Kids works to prevent infant sleep-related deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep for their babies through programs (such as the Safe Sleep Ambassador program) and by providing portable cribs to families who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep. [https://www.safekids.org/tip/sleep-safety-and-suffocation-prevention-tips Safe Kids Worldwide] - Find sleep safety and suffocation prevention tips from Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries.