WEB POSTED 09-28-2000

SAVE THE BABIES!!!

I just received a piece of mail which truly warms my heart. From the Department of Public Health of the City of Chicago, it more than made my day. It arrived just as I was in the midst of trying to select a subject to deal with in this column. There are so many problems with which we are faced � none of them trivial or insignificant � that it sometimes becomes quite difficult to choose one critical subject over another, equally critical. Just as the journalistic wrestling match was about to get the best of me, a Brother brought me my mail for the day, containing the document to which I made reference earlier.

I do not know Commissioner Sheila Lyne, but she got my attention in the very first sentence of her letter, wherein she indicated that she was working with Congressman Danny K. Davis. Congressman Davis has been consistent in his drive to improve the lives of our people ever since I have known him. From his occupancy of local and state offices to his present national position, he is still "Brother Danny", with his primary aim that of improving the lot of all people, while remembering that "Charity begins at home".

Commissioner Lyne enclosed with her correspondence to me the first issue of a newsletter, generated by the Public Health Department�s Public Information Office, and entitled, TAKE CHARGE! I knew immediately that the lead article needed to be read by every Black person who had babies, would have babies or knew anybody who had or would have babies. For fear that something may be lost in translation, I will merely repeat it verbatim. Please do your best to share it with anyone you know who has, or plans to have, children:

SIDS: Reduce the Risk

There is nothing more tragic than the death of a baby. Far too many babies less than one year old die from SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

In Chicago, SIDS deaths have decreased dramatically � except in the African American community. An African American baby is four times more likely to die of SIDS than a baby of another race.

No one knows what causes SIDS but we know what has been proven to keep your baby safer. Follow these tips:

Put your baby on his/her back to go to sleep. This is new. Your mother was told babies sleep on their tummies but now we know that fewer babies will die of SIDS if they sleep on their backs. Recently, there have been stories about babies who sleep on their backs having "flat heads". But this flat head problem is harmless and usually resolves itself within the first 6 to 12 months. Give your baby some "tummy time" while your baby is awake.

Bedding. Make sure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress or surface. Take away the fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, bumper guards and comforters if you use covers at all. Don�t let your baby sleep on a pillow, couch, waterbed, sheepskin or other soft material.

Temperature. The room temperature should feel comfortable to you. Dress your baby as you are dressed.

Smoking. Do not smoke around your baby and don�t let anyone else smoke around your baby.

Separate Beds. Don�t let your baby sleep in the same bed with you or with others.

I know you love your babies, so just do it!