![\"Tennessee](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Tennessee-Department-of-Health.jpg\" "\\"Tennessee")
Nashville, TN<\/strong> – Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam and Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, joined other state and local officials at the Tennessee Residence in Nashville Thursday, February 25th to celebrate the success of the statewide initiative to reduce sleep-related deaths among infants.<\/p>\nTDH has partnered with the Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation and Tennessee hospitals since 2014 to help new parents and hospital staff members learn the \u201cABCs of Safe Sleep.\u201d Tennessee has seen a 25 percent reduction in sleep-related deaths of infants during this period.<\/p>\n
![\"Tennessee](\"http:\/\/www.clarksvilleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Tennessee-Celebrates-Reduction-in-Sleep-Related-Infant-Deaths.jpg\" "\\"Tennessee")
<\/a>Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH; Sleep Baby Safe and Snug Author John Hutton, MD; Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam; Owen Hanke; Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation Co-founder Maura Hanke; Annie Hanke; Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation President Sam Hanke, MD and TDH Assistant Commissioner of Family Health & Wellness Michael Warren, MD, MPH celebrate Tennessee\u2019s reduction of sleep-related deaths at the Tennessee Residence Feb. 25, 2016.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cWith a concerted effort and the awareness and actions of all of us who care for infants, we don\u2019t have to lose another baby to a preventable sleep-related death,\u201d said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. \u201cThese deaths can be stopped with consistent, persistent safe sleep practices. We thank everyone involved for this heartening progress and their dedication to this goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The celebration started with an opportunity to meet Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation Co-founders Dr. Sam and Maura Hanke, who established the organization after losing their first child to sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. Charlie\u2019s Kids was founded with the purpose of increasing safe sleep awareness and education with the ultimate goal of reducing the SIDS mortality rate.<\/p>\n
Sam Hanke, a pediatric cardiologist, and Maura Hanke, a kindergarten teacher, have made it their mission to teach others that a baby is safest alone and on his or her back in a crib for sleeping.<\/p>\n
“Charlie’s Kids is thrilled to continue partnering with the Tennessee Department of Health and hospitals across the state in this initiative,\u201d said Sam Hanke, MD, president of the Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation board of directors. \u201cThe reduction of sleep-related deaths in Tennessee since 2012 shows that hospitals teaching and modeling safe sleep is crucial and effective.”<\/p>\n
The primary message for parents and others who care for infants is to \u201cRemember the ABCs of Safe Sleep<\/strong>.\u201d There are three critical measures to follow when it\u2019s time for an infant to sleep. \u201cA\u201d is for Alone: always let the baby sleep alone, never in a bed with another person where the baby could be smothered and never with pillows or blankets. \u201cB\u201d is for on the baby\u2019s Back; an infant should be placed to sleep on his or her back, not on his or her side or stomach. \u201cC\u201d is for Crib: always put your child to sleep in a crib with only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet.<\/p>\n The Charlie\u2019s Kids Foundation delivered 86,000 copies of the Sleep Baby Safe and Snug<\/em> board book Feb. 25 for Tennessee hospitals to continue providing a copy to each baby born in their facilities in 2016. The books arrived in the Charlie\u2019s Kids truck at Bicentennial Mall State Park. With this shipment, the foundation marked delivery of one million Sleep Baby<\/em> books, a milestone reached through partnership with TDH and Tennessee hospitals. Sleep Baby<\/em> author John Hutton, MD, was on hand at the celebration to sign copies of the book.<\/p>\n [320left]The 12 Tennessee birthing hospitals that have received the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Certification were presented a certificate by Cribs for Kids Founder and Executive Director Judy Bannon at the conclusion of the celebration event. Hospitals meeting specific criteria for teaching and modeling safe sleep for infants can apply for bronze, silver or gold certification.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing that all 65 birthing hospitals in Tennessee have implemented a safe sleep policy, and I want to congratulate the 12 hospitals that have taken the extra step to apply for the national certification,\u201d said Bannon.<\/p>\n Hospitals receiving certificates included Monroe Carrell Jr. Children\u2019s Hospital at Vanderbilt; LeConte Medical Center; Franklin Woods Community Hospital; Erlanger East; Erlanger Baroness Campus; Hardin Medical Center; Cookeville Regional Medical Center; Laughlin Memorial Hospital; Jackson-Madison County General Hospital; Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center; Niswonger Children\u2019s Hospital and Tennova Healthcare.<\/p>\n Learn more about the ABCs of safe sleep at safesleep.tn.gov<\/a><\/p>\n