Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Network's Electronic Newsletter, Reaching Out, Issue 9804 April 26, 1998

Contents:

1. Counseling Parents to Reduce the Risk for SIDS
2. Translations of Risk Reduction Information Needed
3. Latest Research Information Available
4. Launching SIDS Network's "Project Outreach (sm)"

1. Counseling Parents to Reduce the Risk for SIDS

"SIDS: Counseling Parents to Reduce the Risk", American Family Physician, April 1, 1998.

Through patient education, family physicians can help reduce the incidence of the number one cause of death in infants one week to one year old. This article, appearing in American Family Physician, was coauthored by:

John L. Carroll, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Children's Center
Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Carroll is associate professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and director of the Johns Hopkins SIDS and Infant Home Monitoring Program. He graduated from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, and completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at State University of New York Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse. Dr. Carroll also completed pediatric pulmonary fellowships at the University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson, and the Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal. He completed a research fellowship in newborn respiratory physiology at McGill University.

Ellen S. Siska
SIDS Network, Pennsylvania Connection
York, Pennsylvania

Ms. Siska is executive director of the SIDS Network--Pennsylvania Connection, York, PA. Her son, Edward David Siska, died as a result of SIDS.

You can learn more about this important article at:

http://sids-network.org/counseling_parents_to_reduce_the.htm

2. Translations of Risk Reduction Information Needed

The energies of a few individuals have channeled themselves in a direction that is helping more people who are seeking information in the area of SIDS risk reduction. Basic SIDS risk reduction in 13 languages is currently available at:

http://sids-network.org/basic.htm

The languages are:
- English
- Spanish
- German
- French
- Vietnamese
- Cambodian
- Taidam
- Laotian
- Finnish
- Japanese
- Norwegian
- Swedish
- Chinese

SIDS strikes without regard to the language you speak. If you are willing to help provide translations of SIDS risk reduction information into other languages please contact the SIDS Network at sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org.

Also, if you are willing to help provide translations of the information brochure that can be shared with anyone interested in information regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and what the SIDS Network does, please contact the SIDS Network at sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org. This brochure is available on the SIDS Network Web Site web site at http://sids-network.org/download.htm.

3. Latest Research Information Available

A number of media articles periodically hit the news regarding SIDS. The news usually refers to research and study results. The public has been on an information roller coaster, the result of an explosion of medical reports, each heralding a "breakthrough in SIDS research." We all need to help people separate myth from fact and risk factor from cause. The SIDS Network will post information to the SIDS/OID Information Web Site, as it becomes available.

Please keep the following in mind:

- When it comes to media coverage of SIDS, all of us often feel a sense of frustration in being confronted with misleading headlines, announcements of so-called breakthroughs and statements taken out of context.

- Please read the article, "Mass Media's" Role in SIDS Education, at http://sids-network.org/media.htm

- Try to seek out the source documents.

The SIDS Network gathers information about specific research and will keep you updated by a direct link on the SIDS Network home page http://sids-network.org/ and on the "FAQ for Experts and Professionals" page at http://sids-network.org/experts.htm.

Recent media attention pertains to air travel and SIDS. The source document for the news surrounding this topic is the March 21, 1998 edition of the British Medical Journal. You can read more about this topic at http://sids-network.org/air_travel.htm.

Other Recent media attention pertains to simultaneous SIDS and Twins. You can read more about this topic at http://sids-network.org/simultaneous.htm.

Previous media attention surrounded abuse and SIDS. You can read more about this topic at http://sids-network.org/abuse.htm.

4. Launching SIDS Network's "Project Outreach (sm)"

A growing number of individuals and families are turning to the Internet to seek support and information about SIDS everyday.

To help provide under served families with the support and information they need, the SIDS Network has initiated a pilot program, untitled "Project Outreach (sm)."

The first step in this project is to make the "SIDS Survival Guide" available to these individuals and families. This portion of "Project Outreach (sm)" is a collaborative effort with SIDS Educational Services, producers of the "SIDS Survival Guide." The SIDS Network and SIDS Educational Services would welcome additional volunteer and/or financial support from other interested individuals, families, organizations, businesses and corporations.

Anyone interested in providing volunteer or financial support, please contact us at sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org. Ideas, suggestions, volunteers, and donations are welcome and greatly needed to make "Project Outreach (sm)" a success.

Donations can be mailed to:

SIDS Network "Project Outreach (sm)"
PO Box 267
Ledyard, CT 06339
USA

Through a donation to SIDS Network "Project Outreach (sm)" you can have a "SIDS Survival Guide" placed in your local library or other local location. This is a wonderful way to remember or honor a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion. This is an important way to provide current and correct information about SIDS and to raise much needed public awareness.

The SIDS Network can also be contacted at sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org.

You have just finished reading the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Network Electronic Newsletter. This newsletter is available on the Web site at http://sids-network.org/newsletter/.

If you come across articles or information on SIDS, please e-mail the information to sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org.

We send this newsletter to interested people through several e-mail mailing list sources. Because of this, you may receive more than one copy. We apologize for this inconvenience.

You may remove yourself from the SIDS Network e-mail mailing list by e-mailing your request to the SIDS Network at sidsnet1-at-sids-network-dot-org.