The Use of the Child Fatality Review Committee to Contribute to a Longitudinal Quality Improvement Project on Safe Sleep.

Abstract

As sudden unexpected infant death rates have plateaued in the United States over the last decade, the rate of sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed has revealed an upward trend.1 There has been much focus on infant safe sleep over the last few years to reduce these preventable deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics revised its sudden infant death syndrome reduction recommendations to include safe sleep environments. These recommendations advise that infants sleep on separate sleep surfaces designed for infants to prevent accidental suffocation, strangulation, layover, or entrapment that could occur in the adult bed, chair, or couch. In addition, the sleeping surface should be free of any loose objects, such as blankets, pillows, or toys, that could obstruct an infant’s airway.2 Some of the efforts to reduce deaths have included public service campaigns,3 community programs and initiatives, safe sleep education and modeling in the hospital setting, and identifying and addressing barriers to safe sleep.4,5 The direct impact of individual …