SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION NO. RS2014-1204

A resolution recognizing September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month and declaring September 9, 2014 as Safe Sleep Awareness Day in Davidson County.

WHEREAS, September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month; 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, the Tennessee Public Health Strategy to Improve Birth Outcomes and Reduce Infant Mortality seeks to decrease the rate of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SIDS, suffocation/strangulation, unknown causes) to 1.4 per 1,000 by 2020; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, 30% of infant deaths in Davidson County were related to unsafe sleep environments; 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 parents and families with this critical life-saving information and to model safe sleep in their daily practice; and

WHEREAS, child care providers and infant product merchants are also instrumental in emphasizing the importance of safe sleep to parents and families; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Health Bureau of Family Health and Wellness, and the Davidson County Fetal Infant Mortality Review Program Community Action Team on Safe Sleep, in collaboration with other concerned leaders in the community, have launched a campaign to inform the community 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 9, 2014, 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: Jerry Maynard, Karen Johnson, Sandra Moore

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Health, Hospitals and Social Services Committee
Introduced:	August 19, 2014
Substitute Introduced:	August 19, 2014
Adopted:	August 19, 2014
Approved:	August 20, 2014
By: