Lompoc Valley Medical Center awarded infant safe sleep certification
LOMPOC, Calif. – Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC) has been recognized for the second year in a row with a bronze certification from the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program for its commitment to best practices and staff education on safe sleeping for infants.
LVMC received the recognition for following safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as providing training programs for team members and caregivers.
“We are very excited to be recertified for this second year,” said LVMC Director of Perinatal Services Melinda DeHoyos. “It is so important to teach our new mothers how to practice safe sleep routines before they are discharged from the hospital. We take pride in promoting safe sleep practices and educating our community on keeping babies as safe as possible while reducing the risk of SIDS [Sudden Infant Death Syndrome]. We hope to continue to grow with this safe sleep program and provide our community the education and tools they need to continue to provide safe sleep environments for their babies.”
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids, a national infant safe sleep organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths.
Sleep-related infant deaths, most commonly from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) or accidental suffocation, claim the lives of more than 3,500 babies every year in the United States details Neonatologist Michael H. Goodstein, Director of Research with Cribs for Kids.
“We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality,” explains Dr. Goodstein. “Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”
According to Cribs for Kids, the safest practices include ensuring babies are always put to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface and that all soft bedding, bumpers, and toys are removed from the sleep space.
“We welcome Lompoc Valley Medical Center to this expanding group of committed hospitals,” said Cribs for Kids Executive Director and Founder, Judith A. Bannon.
