Bexar County in San Antonio, TX has been getting an increasing number of sudden infant death cases each year since 2009. Just last year, Bexar County had a total 16 reported cases of SID which is alarming.
According to Big Country Homepage, a neonatologist from University Health System, Dr. Cynthia Blanco, said, "A lot of people put very fluffy blankets around the baby," she added, "Once they start getting covered in their faces they can suffocate."
The University Health System is trying to find a solution for this increasing problem of newborn babies. A pilot study done by the University Health System regarding the issue was made known to the public last Feb. 16.
This was initially proposed and funded by the North Central Rotary Club. The University Health System designed a cardboard box with a firm mattress inside it where the baby can be placed safe to prevent SID. As posted by HLN, these cardboard boxes are modeled after the baby boxes from Finland.
Some of the major causes of sudden infant deaths reported are suffocation because of blankets covering the baby's face, stuffed animals, crib bumpers and parents accidentally rolling over the baby while asleep. With this baby boxes, babies can be placed safer.
The North Central Rotary Club aims to provide the baby boxes to those mothers who are in need of financial support. They have a total of 135 boxes to give out and each box contains diapers, toys, baby blankets and other important baby materials.
In Finland, their government provided baby boxes to all new families and it has shown a high rate of success according to Dr. Blanco. The whole team who are performing the study have been questioned if this works in San Antonio. Dr. Blanco answered, "I think it's something that we just have to tell parents that it's okay."
They will be checking the results of the study throughout the summer and if it shows a high rate of success, the representatives of this project will try to double the number of boxes that they can provide next year.
