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To: NICHD Acting Director Alison Cernich
Prevent Unnecessary Infant Deaths--Save Safe to Sleep
Dear Acting Director Cernich,
The work completed by the Safe to Sleep campaign (formerly the Back to Sleep campaign) has changed the lives of millions of people. Lives have been saved by providing this information to new parents and caregivers since its inception in 1994. SIDS deaths in 1990 were at a staggering 130.27 per 100,000 live births. In 2019 they reached their lowest at 33.30 per 100,000 live births, Since then the number has been slowly increasing--the most recent data available suggest it is now 41.70 per 100,000 live births in 2022. At a time when research and education are most needed, the decision has been made by the Trump Administration to close the office in charge of overseeing Safe to Sleep. It appears that American children are the victims of the broad-reaching budget cuts of this Administration.
I am writing to urge you, Acting Director Cernich, to please stand up for our children and save vital programs like Safe to Sleep. You literally have the power to help prevent children from dying unnecessarily. Please reinstate the Communications Department that oversees the Safe to Sleep campaign and help our parents, caregivers, and children sleep more safely.
Thank you,
The work completed by the Safe to Sleep campaign (formerly the Back to Sleep campaign) has changed the lives of millions of people. Lives have been saved by providing this information to new parents and caregivers since its inception in 1994. SIDS deaths in 1990 were at a staggering 130.27 per 100,000 live births. In 2019 they reached their lowest at 33.30 per 100,000 live births, Since then the number has been slowly increasing--the most recent data available suggest it is now 41.70 per 100,000 live births in 2022. At a time when research and education are most needed, the decision has been made by the Trump Administration to close the office in charge of overseeing Safe to Sleep. It appears that American children are the victims of the broad-reaching budget cuts of this Administration.
I am writing to urge you, Acting Director Cernich, to please stand up for our children and save vital programs like Safe to Sleep. You literally have the power to help prevent children from dying unnecessarily. Please reinstate the Communications Department that oversees the Safe to Sleep campaign and help our parents, caregivers, and children sleep more safely.
Thank you,
Why is this important?
Through broad budget cuts the Trump Administration has eliminated the office overseeing the Safe to Sleep campaign (formerly the Back to Sleep campaign), an initiative led by the NICHD to decrease infant deaths related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For over three decades the NICHD has been a leader in research and education on best practices to avoid SIDS. Although information is still available on the NICHD website, the ability to order printed materials is no longer available and the involvement of the NICHD and NIH in preventing infant deaths has been jeopardized. These materials were used by hospitals and organizations all over the country to help educate parents and caregivers about best practices on safe infant sleep and have been credited with drastically decreasing infant mortality rates in America. The research and work completed by the NICHD and NIH through the Safe to Sleep campaign is vital. As a women's health nurse and mother, I know first hand how important these resources are to new parents and caregivers. By removing the funding for this project, the Trump Administration is putting the lives of some of our most vulnerable individuals at risk.