Declare SIDS Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 185 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation; and WHEREAS, SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year of age; each year, about 4,000 infants die unexpectedly during sleep time, from SIDS, accidental suffocation, or other unknown causes; and WHEREAS, About 7.5% of infant deaths in New York State are referred to as sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) and are attributed to either unsafe sleep practices or, because no cause can be identified, labeled as SIDS; and WHEREAS, SIDS is sometimes called "crib death" because it is associated with the time frame when the baby is sleeping; cribs themselves do not cause SIDS, but the baby's sleep environment can influence sleep-related causes of death; and WHEREAS, Researchers suspect multiple conditions may lead to SIDS; many scientists believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or more conditions that cause unexpected responses to the internal and external stressors common during an infant's life; and WHEREAS, If caregivers can remove one or more outside stressors, by creating a safe sleeping environment, they can reduce the risk of SIDS; in order to create a safe sleeping environment, caregivers should remember the ABC's of Safe Sleep - baby's should sleep Alone, on their Back, in a safe Crib; and WHEREAS, The Safe to Sleep program, created by the CDC and NIH also recommends that no blankets, pillows or toys should be placed in the crib, and that the baby sleep in the same room where parents sleep, but never in the same bed; and WHEREAS, While the prevalence of SIDS in the United States has decreased by 50% over the last 20 years, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for U.S. infants one month to one year of age in the United States; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.