Fort Wayne, Ind. – Wednesday, May 18, 2011 — Parkview Hospital officials today were joined by members of the Allen County Child Death Review Team to celebrate a milestone in providing cribs to families in need.
Over the past two years, more than 1,000 safety-approved cribs have been given to parents who might not otherwise be able to afford them.
In partnership with the Indiana First Candle program, Parkview is a distributor of safe and portable cribs. Potential recipients are evaluated for need on a financial basis and required to complete an educational course. Parents or expectant parents interested in learning more about the program may call (260) 373-6830.
Unsafe sleep is the number one killer of children under the age of one in Allen County. Co-sleeping with an infant, blankets in a crib and stuffed animals are some of the key factors that lead to unsafe sleep practices and place children in danger.
According to the Allen County Coroner’s office, since 2009, 14 children have died as a result of accidental suffocation or unsafe sleep as a contributing factor. Parkview and the Allen County Child Death Review Team are working together to reduce preventable deaths in our community.
“We are committed to improving the health of the communities we serve. By working together with physicians, nurses and parents, we want every family to be equipped with the knowledge and resources to provide the safest environment possible for their infant,” said Connie Kerrigan, manager of community nursing, Parkview Hospital.