Campaigners raise awareness of cot death

COT deaths have increased in the county and a support group has warned of complacency.

Suzanne Gregory, chairman of the Ipswich branch of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSiD), is stressing the message that the problem has not disappeared and there are ways to try and avoid it.

Ipswich Hospital records show six cot deaths in the town this year - compared to none in the previous two years.

Miss Gregory said: "Around 15 years ago there was a lot of awareness when Anne Diamond lost her baby.

"Awareness has now dropped because there are not so many deaths, but it is still happening and people don't get to hear about it."

She said there were still six or seven unexplained baby deaths a week across the country.

The 11-strong Ipswich group is battling away behind the scenes to raise money and maintain services.

As well as giving advice to parents, the group also offers a support network to people who have lost their child to cot death.

Miss Gregory offers bereaved parents a hand and footprint and a lock of hair from the child to give to the parents as a lasting reminder.

She said: "It is only if the parents want it.

"Personally I think it is a nice thing for them to be able to take away as they came to the hospital with a baby and are leaving without it."

To contact the group call Suzanne Gregory on 01473 702041.

REDUCING THE RISK-

n. Place your baby on its back to sleep

n. Cut smoking in pregnancy – fathers too.

n. Don't let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby

n. Don't let your baby get too hot

n. Keep the babies head uncovered and make sure it sleeps at the end of the bed so it cannot wriggle all the way down under the blankets.

n. Sleeping on a sofa is not safe as they can roll to the back.

Information source – Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.