Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/safe-sleep-investigation-1.6371261
Unsafe sleep practices present in hundreds of infant deaths in Canada, CBC investigation finds
At least 1,338 Canadian infants died with unsafe sleep risk factors present between 2009 and 2019
Karissa Donkin · CBC News · Posted: May 03, 2022 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 9 hours ago
Safe Sleep is an investigative series examining what risk factors were present in more than 1,300 incidents of infant death over an 11-year span in Canada.
Early one morning in 2018 inside a home in British Columbia, a fussing baby was placed to sleep on their stomach on the chest of a family member.
The relative, who was lying on a couch, fell asleep, too. When they awoke, the one-month-old was unresponsive and not breathing.
It's a tragic scenario that's occurred for multiple families across Canada, as detailed in records obtained as part of a CBC News investigation into infant deaths during sleep, which found at least 1,338 infants died with unsafe sleep risk factors present between 2009 and the end of 2019.
The infant in B.C. died a natural death from pneumonia, according to a coroner's report, but bed sharing with the relative on a couch was listed as a contributing factor.
"Perinatal [Services] BC recommends that a baby be placed to sleep alone on a firm mattress such as a crib, cradle or bassinet," the report says.
"A safe sleep surface reduces the risk of suffocation which can be increased in infants with compromised breathing due to a respiratory infection."...
Unsafe sleep practices present in hundreds of infant deaths in Canada, CBC investigation finds
At least 1,338 Canadian infants died with unsafe sleep risk factors present between 2009 and 2019
Karissa Donkin · CBC News · Posted: May 03, 2022 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 9 hours ago
Safe Sleep is an investigative series examining what risk factors were present in more than 1,300 incidents of infant death over an 11-year span in Canada.
Early one morning in 2018 inside a home in British Columbia, a fussing baby was placed to sleep on their stomach on the chest of a family member.
The relative, who was lying on a couch, fell asleep, too. When they awoke, the one-month-old was unresponsive and not breathing.
It's a tragic scenario that's occurred for multiple families across Canada, as detailed in records obtained as part of a CBC News investigation into infant deaths during sleep, which found at least 1,338 infants died with unsafe sleep risk factors present between 2009 and the end of 2019.
The infant in B.C. died a natural death from pneumonia, according to a coroner's report, but bed sharing with the relative on a couch was listed as a contributing factor.
"Perinatal [Services] BC recommends that a baby be placed to sleep alone on a firm mattress such as a crib, cradle or bassinet," the report says.
"A safe sleep surface reduces the risk of suffocation which can be increased in infants with compromised breathing due to a respiratory infection."...
