July 2002

Grant translates SIDS info

A $49,000 grant to the Sudden Infant Death Research Foundation in Victoria will help continue its life-saving work to reduce the SIDS toll.

Welcoming Red Nose Day and urging community participation and donations, Community Services Minister Bronwyn Pike said the SIDS and Kids organisation had been pivotal in helping reduce the SIDS toll in Victoria by more than 80 per cent from 106 SIDS deaths in 1990 to 16 in 2001.

Ms Pike said the $49,000 Government grant would help translate information on the prevention of SIDS into 10 community languages.

‘It is critical that we use every possible channel to get out information that we know may help prevent SIDS deaths.’

She said SIDS and Kids had done an extraordinary job in the past decade in disseminating the basic messages on putting babies safely to sleep.

The messages are:

• From birth, place a baby on its back to sleep;

• Sleep the baby with its face uncovered;

• Cigarette smoke is bad for babies.

Ms Pike said that any parents who were unsure about SIDS issues, or other issues relating to baby and child welfare, could seek information and support by contacting their Maternal and Child Health nurse or after hours phone help lines including the Maternal and Child Health After Hours line (0–6 year children) on 9853 0844 and Parentline (information and referrals, including about teenagers) on 13 22 89.