SIDS Awareness Month

San Andreas, CA — It´s the fear of every new parent, the silent killer known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. Victims appear healthy but die without warning in their sleep. The cause is unknown.

October marks Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, which is aimed reducing the risk of SIDS.

According to the Calaveras County Public Health Department, there are more than 2,100 SIDS deaths in the United States every year. Calaveras County experienced a SIDS death in the years 2002, 2005 and 2007.

One known method to prevent SIDS is to put babies to sleep on their backs. Since a national campaign touting that message began in 1994, SIDS rates have decreased 50 percent.

To help in the effort, local health officials will be providing risk reduction materials to medical providers and child care givers.

Written by Vanessa Turner.