Suffocation is the leading cause of death for infants. The majority of these incidents occur in the sleeping environment. Most infant suffocations occur when babies are placed face down on a soft surface that they sink into. Infants who are 0 to 4 months old have the greatest risk of suffocating. These young infants don't have enough strength to lift their heads and turn their faces so that they can breathe. Many of these deaths occur when a baby naps at the home of a friend who doesn't have a crib or doesn't know the importance of having the baby sleep on their back.
Facts
There were 305 suffocation deaths in Virginia for a suffocation death rate of 4.13 per 100,000.
Suffocation accounted for almost 20% (152) of suicide-related deaths.
Suffocation accounted for almost one-third of deaths for infants under the age of 1.
Males were twice as likely as females to experience a suffocation related death.
There were 96 hospitalizations for suffocation injuries, for a rate of 1 per 100,000.
Suffocation hospitalizations had a fatality rate of 14%.
The median cost per episode of care was $10,036 and the average length of stay was 4.3 days.
Over one million dollars were billed because of these types of injury. About half of the discharges had a government source as the expected payer, and about 39% had a private payer
There were 13 hospitalizations for self-inflicted suffocation injuries.
Prevention Tips
Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back, not the stomach. This may also reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Always place babys to sleep in a safety-approved crib (look for a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certification label) with a firm tight-fitting mattress and tight-fitting bottom sheet.
Never let your baby sleep on soft surfaces like waterbeds, sheepskin rugs, pillows or comforters.
Babies placed on adult beds risk suffocation from several hidden hazards such as:
Entrapment between bed and wall.
Entrapment involving the bed frame, headboard or footboard.
Falls from adult beds onto piles of clothing, plastic bags or other soft materials resulting in suffocation.
Suffocation in soft bedding (such as pillows, thick quilts and comforters).
An adult may roll over onto the infant causing the baby to suffocate.
Remove quilts, comforters, pillows, and other fluffy bedding and toys from baby's sleep area.
Be sure your baby's head and face stay uncovered while he or she sleeps.
Make sure crib has no loose or missing slats. Make sure slats are spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart to avoid head entrapment/strangulation.
Never put a crib, childbed or furniture near windows. Children can strangle on window cords or can fall through screens.
Dispose of or keep away from children, all plastic bags as they might pull them over their heads.
Make sure toy chests have ventilation holes that will not be blocked if the chest is placed against the wall, or a chest, which, when closed, has a gap between the lid and the sides of the chest.
Do not smoke or let anyone smoke around your baby.
Explain these safety tips to other relatives and friends who may attend to your baby.
PARENTS, DID YOU KNOW THAT SUFFOCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF INJURY DEATH AMONG INFANTS IN VIRGINIA? TO PREVENT YOUR BABY FROM BEING PART OF THIS STATISTIC, MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT IS SAFE. THE BEST PLACE FOR A BABY TO SLEEP IS IN A SAFETY APPROVED CRIB WITH A FIRM, TIGHT-FITTING MATTRESS AND BOTTOM SHEET, NOT AN ADULT BED. NEVER USE PILLOWS, COMFORTERS, THICK BLANKETS OR STUFFED TOYS IN THE SLEEPING AREA. AND ALWAYS PLACE A BABY TO SLEEP ON HIS OR HER BACK - NOT THEIR STOMACH. SHOW YOUR BABY THEY'RE LOVED; EVEN WHEN NOT IN YOUR ARMS…MAKE THEIR ENVIRONMENT SAFE.
A MESSAGE FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S CENTER FOR INJURY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. LEARN MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE AT vahealth.org/civp.
