October is SIDS Awareness Month

Safe sleep habits are just as important as healthy sleep habits. In most first-world countries, safe sleep education is being pushed by the government. In fact, there are even laws that mandate US hospitals to educate new parents about safe sleep prior to discharge. Sadly, there is still no government support and a huge lack of public education about safe sleep in the Philippines.

This October is SIDS Awareness Month. Halo Philippines (http://www.halophilippines.com), the local distributor of the Halo SleepSack wearable blanket, amplifies its campaign to spread the word about safe sleep. Along with fellow safe sleep advocates, Forty Weeks and Then Some hopes to start a yearly tradition of promoting safe sleep for the continuous education of parents.

What is SIDS? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the dangers that may steal the lives of our precious little ones.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID): The death of an infant that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. After a case investigation, these deaths may be diagnosed as suffocation, asphyxia, entrapment, infection, ingestions, metabolic diseases, cardiac arrhythmias, trauma (accidental or non-accidental), or SIDS.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The sudden death of an infant that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history. SIDS is a type of SUID.

Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB) also is a type of sleep-related SUID. This includes infant deaths related to airway obstruction (asphyxia) in a sleeping environment caused by—

1. Suffocation by soft bedding—such as a pillow or waterbed mattress.
2. Overlay—another person overlaying or rolling on top of or against the infant.
3. Wedging or entrapment—wedging between two objects such as a mattress and wall, bed frame, or furniture.
4. Strangulation—such as when an infant’s head and neck become caught between crib railings.

How to Reduce the Risk 

In support of SIDS Awareness Month, Halo Philippines has put together this public service reminder on safe sleep.

Created by a parent who lost a child to SIDS, the award-winning Halo SleepSack is a wearable blanket that eliminates the risk of a baby getting entangled with clothing and loose bedding during sleep. It is worn over pajamas or a t-shirt in place of loose blankets that can easily be kicked off, thus ensuring a better night’s sleep. It is the safer way to sleep.TM

Halo is the No. 1 wearable blanket in the market today. Its name has become synonymous to quality and safety that translates to value for money. In fact, Halo is the only brand trusted and used by over 1,200 US hospitals and NICUs, and is consistently voted by parenting authorities as the No.1 baby must-have.

With sizes for newborns up to 5 years old, babies can grow with Halo and experience safer, healthier sleep, which in turn promotes physical and mental development.

As a special treat for my blog readers, Halo Philippines is giving 15% discount on all Halo SleepSacks for the entire month of October! Just key in my blog name, Forty Weeks, under “customer instructions” when you check out your order at www.halophilippines.com.

How You Can Help 

Together with Halo Philippines, we ask our readers and community to help us raise awareness for SIDS and safe sleep. We ask that you share this post with your family, friends and your community.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Click the “Facebook” Share button at the bottom of this post. 
• Share this post on Twitter and tag with #safesleepph 
• Like Halo Philippines’ facebook page (www.facebook.com/halophilippines).

Together, we can do our part to help promote safe sleep for all babies!