Black Nurses Conference

First Candle Presents Overview of Safe Sleep Program at Black Nurses Conference

Last week First Candle’s Director of Education and Training attended the National Black Nurses Association, Black Nurses Conference and presented an overview of Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep.   This program addresses the obstacles and objections parent’s face in following the Safe Sleep guidelines developed by The American Academy of Pediatrics.  Every year over 3,500 babies die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths which could be prevented by following these guidelines.

The Straight Talk program is a two-part curriculum which first trains trusted community providers including health care professionals, social workers and daycare providers to educate them on the Safe Sleep Guidelines and the reasons behind them.  It also addresses the inherent biases the prevent them from connecting with their clients and parents.

Most importantly, room sharing but not bed sharing for the first year of life with nothing in the babies sleep environment including blankets, pillows, fluffy bumpers and stuffed animals is discussed.  The number of deaths could be reduced in half by simply following these guidelines.

Attendees commented that unfortunately in many hospitals safe sleep guidelines are not being discussed with new moms and this program would help in educating staff and hospital administrators on the need to communicate these messages.

First Candle’s Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep program was underwritten by MAM as part of their commitment to safe sleep.

First Candle offers the Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep program to community organizations, agencies and hospitals through grants and donations.  To learn more about our program and how you can bring it to your community post a comment below and we’ll be happy to contact you.