Hagan Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Infant Mortality

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (NC), along with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), introduced the bipartisan Child Care Infant Mortality Prevention Act this week to reduce infant deaths caused by Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). The bill, which doesn't add a dime to deficit, allows funding from Child Care and Development Block Grants to be used for child-care provider training in sleep practices, first aid and CPR for infants. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update and make available to the public instructional and training materials and other information on safe sleep practices and SUID prevention strategies.

"As a mother of three, I know parents are concerned first and foremost about the safety of their children, especially when they are left in the care of others," said Senator Hagan, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families. "Many cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome can be prevented with safe sleep practices, and this commonsense, bipartisan bill provides training and education to child-care providers so that North Carolina families don't have to experience an unnecessary tragedy."

Nearly 12 million children under five years old are in daily child-care, and it is estimated that child-care settings account for 20% of all SUID deaths in the United States.

Each year in North Carolina, approximately 100 families experience the tragedy of SUIDS. It is the third leading cause of infant deaths overall and the primary cause for death for infants ages 1 - 12 months of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, half of the approximately 4,500 SUID cases that occur each year in the United States can be prevented with effective training and implementation of correct sleep practices.

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