Hazards of Mattresses, Beds and Bedding in Deaths of Infants

Gilbert‐Barness, Enid; Hegstrand, Linda R.; Chandra, S. V.; Emery, John L.; Barness, Lewis A.; Franciosi, Ralph A.; Huntington, Robert W.

doi:10.1097/00000433-199103000-00004

Cited by 62 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…10 Another 16 of the deaths were attributed to accidental suffocation. We assume that supine sleep on firm sleep surfaces designed for infants could have prevented most of the 41 deaths in these 2 groups that make up our first 2 categories in Table 4 14,15,40 (Figs 1-4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although separate risk calculations have not been made for use of sleep surfaces other than those meeting standards for infant safety, the case against this practice seems compelling. [13][14][15][16][17]47,48 Most deaths on adult beds, chairs, and sofas occurred while the infant was sleeping with another person (68.1%). It is difficult to imagine a shared sleep surface used in the United States that would be as safe as standard cribs, in good repair, in preventing falls and entrapment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[13][14][15][16][17] Adult beds and couches are often involved. 16 -18 Because these sleep surfaces are often shared, the possibility of entrapment by a bedmate (or overlying) has also been raised.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4,10,18,20,21 This study has focused on 4 sleep practices as risk factors: position when found, 22 presence of bedding or other materials covering the infant's face or head, 18,20 sharing a sleep surface with others, [23][24][25][26][27][28][29] and the use of sleep surfaces other than those recommended for infants. 14,15,17 In addition to the strong consensus regarding their effect on risk, we have focused on these 4 sleep practices because the death-scene data provided detailed information about them, and because these risk factors might be eliminated through information campaigns.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Unsafe Sleep Practices and an Analysis of Bedsharing Among Infants Dying Suddenly and Unexpectedly: Results of a Four-Year, Population-Based, Death-Scene Investigation Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Related Deaths

et al. 2000

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ABSTRACT. Background. Prone sleep and unsafe sleep surfaces increase the risk of sudden infant death. Recent epidemiologic studies also suggest that when an infant's head or face is covered by bedding, or when a sleep surface is shared with others, the risk of dying increases. The inference of a causal role for these risk factors is supported by physiologic studies and by the consistent finding that fewer infants die when risk factors are reduced. The prevalence of most of these risk factors in infant deaths in the United States is uncertain.Objective. To describe the prevalence of several important risk factors related to sleep practices among a defined population of infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly.Methods. In this population-based study, we retrospectively reviewed death-scene information and medical examiners' investigations of deaths in the city of St Louis and St Louis County between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1997. Because of the potential for diagnostic overlap, all deaths involving infants <2 years old with the diagnoses of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, or cause undetermined were included.Results. The deaths of 119 infants were studied. Their mean age was 109.3 days (range: 6 -350). The diagnoses were SIDS in 88 deaths, accidental suffocation in 16, and undetermined in 15. Infants were found prone in 61.1% of cases and were found on a sleep surface not designed for infants in 75.9%. The head or face was covered by bedding in 29.4%. A shared sleep surface was the site of death in 47.1%. Only 8.4% of deaths involved infants found nonprone and alone, with head and face uncovered.Conclusions. Using detailed death-scene descriptions, we found that similar unsafe sleeping practices occurred in the large majority of cases diagnosed as SIDS, accidental suffocation, and cause undetermined. Considering these diagnoses together may be useful in public health campaigns during a time when there may be diagnostic overlap. Regardless of the diagnosis, recommendations that infants sleep supine on firm sleep surfaces that lessen the risk of entrapment or head covering have the potential to save many lives. Campaigns are needed to heighten awareness of these messages and of the risks of dangerous bedsharing. Pediatrics 2000; 106(3). URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/ 106/3/e41; sudden infant death syndrome, sleep, child, consumer product safety, suffocation.ABBREVIATIONS. SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; ME, medical examiner. E pidemiologic studies identifying risk factors and public health campaigns to reduce these risks have been followed by large reductions in the rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in many countries. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] In Reduce the Risk public health campaigns, priority has been given to risk factors that may be causally related to SIDS. 11,12 In addition, priority has been given to risk factors that are readily correctable and at the same time acceptable to care providers and parents.Many studies, including several r...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unsafe Sleep Practices and an Analysis of Bedsharing Among Infants Dying Suddenly and Unexpectedly: Results of a Four-Year, Population-Based, Death-Scene Investigation Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Related Deaths

et al. 2000

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“… Neck compression (Shapiro-Mendoza, 2006). Accidental asphyxia can occur in younger children and infants, who may move into positions in which their airways become occluded, their bodies become wedged so that they are unable to breathe, or they become suspended from their clothing or restraining harnesses (Gilbert-Barness et al, 1991;Nixon et al, 1995;Byard, 1996). Many houses in Turkey (especially those situated in the villages and slums) are built with metal rings mounted in the ceilings, so that the occupants can set up swing-like cradles, which are hammock-like in nature.…”

Section: Sudden and Unexplained Infant Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death Scene Investigation from the Viewpoint of Forensic Medicine Expert

Demirci¹,

Doğan²

2011

Forensic Medicine - From Old Problems to New Challenges

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Sudden Infant Death With External Airways Covered

Scheers¹,

Dayton²,

Kemp³

1998

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

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To study factors associated with sudden infant deaths occurring with the external airways (ie, nose and mouth) covered by bedding. Design: Case-comparison study of infants dying with vs those dying without the external airways covered. Setting: Death-scene investigation and reconstruction at the site of death using an infant mannequin; 18 metropolitan areas. Participants: Caregivers for a consecutive sample of infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Complete data from 206 of 382 eligible cases. Main Outcome Measures: Among infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly, an analysis of whether sociodemographic risk factors for SIDS, sleep practices, or bedding increased the risk of dying with the external airways covered. Results: Data were analyzed by using univariate and 2 types of multivariate risk analysis, logistic regression and latent class. Of the victims, 59 (29%) were found with Editor's Note: This is one case for soft findings (eg, pillows, comforters) being of great significance.

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Hazards of Mattresses, Beds and Bedding in Deaths of Infants

Cited by 62 publications

References 0 publications

Unsafe Sleep Practices and an Analysis of Bedsharing Among Infants Dying Suddenly and Unexpectedly: Results of a Four-Year, Population-Based, Death-Scene Investigation Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Related Deaths

Unsafe Sleep Practices and an Analysis of Bedsharing Among Infants Dying Suddenly and Unexpectedly: Results of a Four-Year, Population-Based, Death-Scene Investigation Study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Related Deaths

Death Scene Investigation from the Viewpoint of Forensic Medicine Expert

Sudden Infant Death With External Airways Covered

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