Today WellSpan Health announces that WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital and WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital have been recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as certified safe sleep facilities for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. These hospitals join all other WellSpan hospitals with labor and delivery services (WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and WellSpan York Hospital) as holding this ‘best practice’ designation.
"Sleep-related death results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.," said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist at WellSpan York Hospital and medical director of research at 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."
As a nationally certified Safe Sleep Hospital, the hospitals are recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and for providing training programs for healthcare team members and family caregivers.
Each hospital has trained maternity staff on patient education regarding safe newborn sleep. After teaching parents about the importance of the ABC’s of safe sleep (see below), about not smoking, using a firm flat mattress, breastfeeding and other safe sleep practices, the staff asks new moms to sign a "safe sleep pledge."
To help families follow safe sleep practices at home, the hospitals also give all new babies a sleeping sack, for use instead of a blanket, and donates a portable crib to parents who do not have a crib at their home.
"We want to send new families into the community with the very best tools to raise a healthy baby," said Dr. Goodstein. "Safe sleep practices are vitally important. Always remember the ABCs of safe sleep: Place babies alone, on their back, in an uncluttered crib."
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations. For more on safe sleep and maternity care at WellSpan, visit WellSpan.org/Maternity.
