NATIONAL SAFE SLEEP HOSPITAL CERTIFICATION PROGAM RECOGNIZES CLINCH VALLEY HEALTH

Clinch Valley Health is recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a Gold Safe Sleep Champion, the highest designation of the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification, for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. 

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, the only national infant safe sleep organization.  Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Cribs for kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospital, Clinch Valley Health is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for healthcare team members, and family caregivers. 

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist 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.  Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.” 

“Preventable sleep related infant death is one of the leading causes of death to children under the age of one,” said Peter Mulkey, CEO, Clinch Valley Health. “We want to provide support for parents around how to keep their babies safe during sleep. This certification recognizes our work to become the leading educator in our region on how to prevent sleep related infant deaths.”

“Providing newborns with the safest and healthiest start to life is our top priority,” said Director of Women's and Infant Services Theresa Blankenship, RNC-OB at Clinch Valley Health.  “Our safe sleep efforts extend beyond the hospital. We want to ensure that when parents are at home, away from the hospital and nurses, that they know how to put their babies to sleep in the safest way possible.”

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids in Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

According to Judith A. Bannon, Executive Director and Founder for Cribs for Kids®, “The certification program launched in 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Cribs for Kids® national headquarters.  Hundreds of hospitals across the US are certified. We welcome (insert hospital name) to this expanding group of committed hospitals.  This will have a profound effect on the saving babies’ lives.”

For more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program visit https://cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification/