Ohio campaigns aim to address infant sleep safety

The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Association launched separate campaigns this week aimed at reducing infant mortality (Source: “Safe sleep campaigns for babies launch across Ohio,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 14, 2014).

ODH’s Infant Safe Sleep campaign is aimed directly at parents and caregivers. Meanwhile, the OHA also has announced an initiative called Safe Sleep is Good 4 Baby that involves 11 hospital systems in the state and focuses on three areas: modeling safe sleep practices in the hospital; educating parents and families about safe sleep practices at home; and educating the community about the importance of safe sleep.

In 2010, Ohio had an infant mortality rate of 7.72 deaths per 1,000 live births -- the fourth highest rate in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.