RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-392

A resolution recognizing September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month and declaring September 21, 2012 as Safe Sleep Awareness Day in Davidson County.

WHEREAS, September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, nearly a quarter (22%) of the child deaths in Davidson County in 2010 were related to unsafe sleep environments; and

WHEREAS, in 2008 both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited co-sleeping with adults as a risk factor for infant deaths; and

WHEREAS, in 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics expanded its recommendations for safe infant sleeping environments to cover other causes of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID), including suffocation, asphyxia, and entrapment; and

WHEREAS, it remains essential to address these other causes of sleep-related infant deaths by educating the community on the safe-sleep ABCs - the most appropriate way for infants to sleep is Alone, on their Back and in a Crib; and

WHEREAS, professionals within the healthcare community are instrumental in sharing this knowledge with parents and families, and need continually to provide families with this critical life-saving information and to model safe sleep in their daily practice; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Health-Division of Maternal and Child Health and the Davidson County Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program Community Action Team on Safe Sleep, in collaboration with the National Children’s Study of Davidson County, have launched a campaign to inform parents and healthcare providers about a county-wide Safe Sleep Initiative to improve compliance.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month and declaring September 21, 2012 as Safe Sleep Awareness Day in Davidson County.

Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Edith Taylor Langster

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	August 21, 2012
Adopted:	August 21, 2012
Approved:	August 22, 2012
By: