Safe sleeping practices – ensuring that babies sleep by themselves, on their backs, and in a safe crib or bassinet – are simple common sense approaches that help save lives by preventing otherwise avoidable infant fatalities.
Unfortunately, many Frederick County parents are unaware of safe sleeping practices or unable to afford furniture that provides for a safe sleeping environment. As a result, nearly half of the county’s 23 child fatalities between July 2008 and October 2011 were preventable sleep related deaths.
In an effort to increase awareness of safe sleeping practices and save children’s’ lives, the Frederick County Department of Social Services and the Friends of the Child Advocacy Center are coming together to sponsor the first annual Crib Crawl – a 5K walk/run – on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at Baker Park. The Crib Crawl’s simple message – Back to Sleep – will remind parents that how a child sleeps may be a matter of life or death.
Sponsors are urgently needed for this event. Sponsorships are available at the $500, $250, and $100 levels. For less than $100, a portable crib may be purchased for a family who otherwise is unable to provide a safe sleeping environment for their child.
In-kind donations such as printing of materials, t-shirts for runners/walkers, water, etc. are also welcomed.
Please contact Jackie Whalen, Child Protective Services Supervisor, at 301-600-2688 or jwhalen@dhr.state.md.us for more information regarding sponsorship opportunities.
