224 - Sleep-Related Infant Death Rates In Unsafe Sleep Environments May Be Reduced By Using a Community-Wide Collaborative

Poster Number: 224
Publication Number: 224.1339

Background: The Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) in Montgomery County, Texas noticed an increased signal in 2014 of sleep-related infant deaths (SRID). By 2016, SRID was the leading cause of death in children 18 and under in Montgomery County.

Objective: The objective of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-wide collaborative to reduce sleep-related deaths in Montgomery County, Texas, using a combination of local child fatality statistics, free safe sleep policies, procedures and parent resources when offered to community hospitals and community partners.

Design/Methods: In 2017, Texas Children's Hospital, The Woodlands, CFRT, and the Montgomery District Attorney’s office prepared a community-wide informational program to spread awareness of the rates of SRID in Montgomery County. The program included speakers from Texas Children's Hospital, CFRT, Emergency Medical Services and a moving parent testimonial generating community interest in reducing these numbers. A group of concerned attendees created a focus group, who then developed the Montgomery Safe Sleep Coalition, an independent organization. The mission of the Coalition was to reduce sleep-related deaths in Montgomery County. The Coalition discovered that some hospitals did not have policies for safe sleep, or educational materials for staff or parents. Standardized providing policies and procedures, educational materials and posters were created. The Coalition began to partner with community agencies to spread awareness and created a website. The website housed the policies and procedures, educational materials, testimonial videos, and product recalls. All educational resources could be downloaded and printed free of charge. The Coalition became a 501 c3 corporation to allow donations and participation in fund raising activities to enable the Coalition to host community events.

Results: The community program with local fatality data was presented in 2017, at the peak of sleep-related infant deaths. We have seen a gradual decline of SRID over the following years. We did not see an increase in deaths during the COVID pandemic. As of 2020, SRID are no longer the leading cause of deaths in children under 18 in Montogomery County, Texas as reported by the CFRT. 2021 deaths are also low; 2022 data has not yet been analyzed by the CFRT to ensure sustainability.

Conclusion(s): Infant deaths in unsafe sleep environments may be reduced by community collaboration using local data, engaging community partners and providing resources to families and community hospitals and providers using a centralized website.