Twice as Many Babies Die of Sleep-Related Causes in Hamilton County and Northern Kentucky in First Half of 2019

Despite an overalldownward trend in infant mortality this year, one cause of infant death is onthe rise.  In recent years, the HamiltonCounty and Northern Kentucky region have seen 20 to 21 babies die per year fromsleep-related causes. So far in 2019, as many as 20 babies have died ofsleep-related causes. While some deaths are still pending, bed-sharing, orsleeping on the same surface as a baby, accounted for the majority of thesedeaths.

“This is an absolute tragedy for the families impacted and a crisis for our community as a whole,” said Cincinnati Health Commissioner Melba Moore. “Sleep-related deaths are a silent issue in our community, and they are preventable. They are not seen as the threat they are.”

Certain segments of our region have been disproportionately impacted. In Hamilton County, 70% of all sleep-related deaths in 2018 and 2019 happened to Black families. In addition, zip code 45225 (North and South Fairmount, Roll Hill, Millvale) has experienced a greater share of deaths than other communities.

The leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age is sleep-related. According to Dr. Lynne Saddler, District Director of Health for the Northern Kentucky Health Department, “In most cases, these deaths are preventable by following the ABCS of safe sleep: Babies sleep safest Alone, on their Backs and in Cribs.”

“When we come together as a community, we can make real change. We saw this in 2014, when sleep-related deaths were cut in half in Hamilton County,” said Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram. “We need to bring that same communitywide focus and energy to the issue of bed-sharing today.”

Throughout the rest of 2019, Cradle Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Health Department and Hamilton County Public Health are spearheading the following actions to decrease infant sleep-related deaths:

• Safe sleep ambassador training sessions for community members will launch in October.
• Prenatal care providers, birthing hospital staff and pediatric providers will engage in safe sleep messaging.
• Led by branding firm Deskey, an expansive social media campaign that dives into the hows and whys of safe sleep will launch. Follow along on Cradle Cincinnati’s Facebook page.
• A new report on safe sleep in Hamilton County will be released in the fall.
• A video developed by moms from the community that discusses safe sleep will debut at Final Friday OTR in August.

In Northern Kentucky, families have access to free services that provide parenting information and resources, including infant safety. One such program is Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS), a voluntary home visiting program.  First-time pregnant moms and new parents can contact the Northern Kentucky Health Department at (859) 341-4264 or visit http://www.kyhands.com/enroll-now to learn more. Families can also visit https://cribsforkids.org/ to locate safe sleep information and resources in their community.

In Hamilton County, qualifying families can receive a free Pack ‘n Play through the Cincinnati Health Department by calling 211.

Cradle Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Health Department, Hamilton County Public Health and the Northern Kentucky Health Department promote the ABCs of safe sleep for every sleep – naptime and nighttime.