WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the Child Care Infant Mortality Prevention Act, a bill intended to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) by increasing provider training in sleep practices, first aid, and CPR in the Child Care Development Block Grant. The bipartisan bill, introduced with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update and provide training, instructional materials, prevention strategies and other information on safe sleep practices to the public.
"Simple steps can and must be taken to reduce the terrifying and largely preventable tragedy of sudden infant deaths," Senator Collins said. "This bill puts the health and safety of infants at the forefront of child care by ensuring that basic strategies to enhance child safety are adopted and followed by the public and in the child care industry."
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), SUID affects approximately 4,000 infants each year, half of which are due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death for infants aged 1-12 months. In addition, in 2010, 629 of SUID deaths were caused by accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. The Child Care Infant Mortality Prevention Act seeks to eliminate needless SUID deaths by assisting states in improving the overall quality of child care services. The bill also promotes the dissemination of health guidelines and training proposed by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics designed to reduce the risk of SUID.