AdventHealth Manchester Earns Cribs for Kids® Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification

November 19, 2024 — AdventHealth Manchester is proud to announce that it has achieved certification as a Bronze Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital. This certification recognizes our healthcare team members’ commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for our youngest patients. By earning this certification, AdventHealth Manchester demonstrates adherence to rigorous guidelines established by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.

Cribs for Kids® is a national safe sleep initiative dedicated to reducing infant mortality. “Sleep-related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year—3,400 infants annually,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director at Cribs for Kids, adding, “we know that parents do at home what they see done in the hospital, so modeling safe sleep and providing education to families will have an impact on infant mortality. The Cribs for Kids program recognizes hospitals making this commitment.”

• Infant Mortality Rate: The infant mortality rate in Kentucky has not shown the degree of improvement seen nationally. In 2018, Kentucky's rate was 5.6 per 1,000 live births, slightly higher than the national rate of 5.1 per 1,000 live births.
• SUID Rate: Kentucky has a significant number of SUID cases annually. From 2011-2015, there were approximately 83 cases of SUID each year in Kentucky, making it the second leading cause of infant death in the state.
• Unsafe Sleep Practices: The Safe Sleep Kentucky campaign emphasizes the importance of safe sleep practices to prevent SIDS-related infant deaths. The campaign promotes the ABCD guidelines: Alone, Back, Crib, and Danger.

These statistics highlight the critical need for practicing safe sleep to prevent suffocation and SIDS in Clay County, Kentucky. By following the recommended guidelines, we can help reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths and ensure the safety and well-being of our youngest residents.

"Our team has worked diligently to meet the requirements to earn this certification and underscores our dedication to providing safe sleep care for our babies. We are committed to ensuring that every newborn and infant at AdventHealth Manchester receives the highest level of care, including promoting safe sleep practices that align with the guidelines of Cribs for Kids®," added Tina Carnahan, OB Manager.

Judy Bannon, CEO, and founder of Cribs for Kids explains, “The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015. It is rooted in the Safe Sleep Recommendations made by American Academy of Pediatrics and the research that demonstrates families do at home what they see done in the hospital. There are over 500 infant safe sleep certified hospitals across the country and beyond. We are proud to welcome AdventHealth Manchester to our program. It will have a profound effect on saving babies’ lives.”

For more information about Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit, www.cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification.