If the birth of a child is one of the happiest moments a mother and family can experience, the death of such a child in the first year of life would have to be one of the most horrible events imaginable. Tragically, each year there are about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths that occur in the United States. A study in 2020 by the Center for Disease Control found that 905 of these deaths were due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is one of the leaders in this dreadful category.
But not in Lycoming County — and not by coincidence or luck — but rather through diligence and hard work. Over a decade ago, Coroner Chuck Kiessling realized that these ‘crib deaths’ could be virtually eliminated if the bed, bedding, and infant positioning were safe. Thus, he set himself and his team to make it happen. And the results have been amazing.
The Lycoming County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, November 17th, featured two proclamations on behalf of the Cribs for Kids Program for Infant Safe Sleep Month. One was from the county commissioners, and the other was from PA State Representative Joe Hamm. This was a wonderful gesture on the part of Representative Hamm as he acknowledged that his proclamation was a heritage inherited from his predecessor Garth Everett. All this pomp and circumstance was highlighting the importance of this action. It is very, very rare that two proclamations are given. This project has become one of the most inspiring programs in the county and certainly deserves it.
Coroner Kiessling initially acknowledged the program and quickly deferred to his administrative assistant and assistant coroner Kathryn Nickles who heads up the project. She acknowledged that the county coordinates its efforts with “Safe Kids PA,” a statewide organization that exists to reduce injuries and deaths of children through community education. For the past fourteen years, the county coroner’s office has provided hundreds of full-size cribs and pack ’n play units to needy families. The results have been extremely encouraging. Lycoming County has gone three years without a crib death.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also (finally!) on board with addressing crib deaths with the passage on November 12th of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. This legislation prohibits the manufacture and sale of crib bumpers and inclined infant sleep products. Kathryn Nickles noted this in her presentation to the commissioners and also strongly emphasized that those using these products (even the mesh ones) should stop using these immediately. There have been a number of deaths linked to these items, which is what motivated this legislation.
Assistant Coroner Nickles noted the progress that has been made in this tragic area. She emphasized that just cribbing alone was not the answer. It might seem old school, but warm, comfortable sleepwear with a tightly fitted sheet around the child lying on their back is still the safest place for them. Follow the ABCs — Babies are safest when they are:
1. Alone,
2. on their Back, and
3. in a Crib.
Nickles noted that seven babies had died since 2019 due to unsafe sleep environments. Her plea resonated with the entire audience — “Even one of these deaths is too many.”
There are lots of partners in this program, including UPMC, Geisinger, Expectations, the WIC program, the PA Department of Health, and others. Backyard Broadcasting provides two public service announcements a month. The Lycoming County Coroner’s Office chairs the local Safe Kids organization, which is a local partner of Safe Kids Worldwide and rides under the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition. Safe Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing child injuries and deaths in our community. It is strictly funded through grants and donations and has provided Lycoming County with not just cribs and pack ’n plays but also car seats, bike helmets, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and more.
For those interested in getting more involved, go to Facebook in order to stay up to date with upcoming events and for safety information: http://www.facebook.com/safekidspalycomingcountypartner.
