• One of the First Hospitals in New Jersey to Receive the Recognition
News Release 9/14/16
PERTH AMBOY – Raritan Bay Medical Center – Perth Amboy was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a “Certified Gold Safe Sleep Champion,” for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. They are one of the first hospitals in New Jersey to receive the recognition.
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. In addition to being Cribs for Kids partners, Raritan Bay Medical Center was recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for parents, staff and the community. Community outreach includes Raritan Bay’s baby care education classes, monthly health education events, participation in local health fairs and information available on the hospital’s web site www.rbmc.org. In fact, Raritan Bay is providing health education, information about maternity services and community resources, free food, giveaways and raffles for new and expectant parents at Baby Fest on Thursday, September 22, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Raritan Bay – Perth Amboy. Registration is required for the free event, call 1-800-DOCTORS.
“The nurses in our maternity pavilion pride themselves on creating a safe sleep environment for babies and educating new parents about safe sleep for newborns,” said Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Raritan Bay Steven Goldberg, M.D. “We follow the most current best practices and standards to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related causes of infant death.”
For more information on the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program, visit http://www.cribsforkids.org/safesleephospitalcertification/.
“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.” This program is well-aligned with the Maternal Child Health Bureau’s vision of reducing infant mortality through the promotion of infant sleep safety as outlined in Infant Mortality CoIIN Initiative. Thirty-six states have designated SIDS/SUID/SRD as their emphasis to reduce infant mortality.
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids In Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.
According to Judith A. Bannon, Executive Director and Founder for Cribs for Kids, “The program kicked off in June of 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Cribs for Kids national headquarters. Sixteen states and Quebec Canada are represented among the 38 certified hospitals which have achieved the ‘Gold Champion’ status, or are working their way toward it. This will have a profound effect on the number of babies’ lives that will be saved.”
