Following these guidelines may help reduce the risk of SIDS:
- Place your baby on the back to sleep at night and naptime
- Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib
- Eliminate fluffy, loose bedding from your baby's sleep area
- Keep your baby's face clear of coverings
- Be careful not to overheat your baby
- Breastfeed if possible
- Don't allow anyone to smoke around your baby
- Consider offering your baby a pacifier at naptime and bed time for the first year (but not for the first month for breastfed babies)
- Do not allow your baby to sleep in an adult bed
Hayes Hitzeman Foundation Continues Efforts to Distribute Grants
The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation is continuing its efforts to distribute grants to help our community. We, again, feel that Commonwealth Parenting Center and VCU Medical Center are making huge efforts to enhance our community through education and research.
For the year 2004, one grant was given to Commonwealth Parenting Center to help educate parents-to-be about SIDS. Personal consultation will continue to be conducted to provide as much information as possible about how to prevent SIDS and how to educate others that may care for one’s child about SIDS.
In particular, they will offer services to the Elizabeth Project at Pilgrim Baptist Church. For the past three years, the number of teen mothers enrolled in the program has grown 50%. The number of persons affected by the educational program is actually greater than the number of teens, because of the attendance of the mentors, friends, and family members who come. The exponential impact on the community is significant. The Richmond Metro area has teen pregnancy rates higher than the national average. Studies also indicate that the infant mortality of African-American babies is as much as 70% higher than that of White-American babies. These young mothers from Pilgrim Baptist Church will especially benefit from education about SIDS.
In addition, CPC will take the opportunity to use any funding granted to educate as many persons as possible in our community endeavors, including the monthly expectant parent education classes for parents delivering through the Bon Secours Health System.
The Foundation has also distributed a grant for research to VCU Health System that will be conducted by collecting statewide data to help determine possible causes of SIDS. Their aim is: 1. To examine information on sleep position and sleep environment and identify other risk factors in infants who died of SIDS. 2. To develop targeted public health recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS. Click here to download more information about this program. (Requires Adobe Reader.)
Please contact Kyra Oliver Hitzeman at 804-708-0033 or at info@hayeshitzemanfoundation.org for more information.
June 17, 2004
Commonwealth Parenting Center Fulfills a Mission
Thanks to a generous grant from the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation in December 2003, Commonwealth Parenting Center (CPC) delivered the message of SIDS awareness and prevention to many new parents, as well as caretakers and relatives. CPC has reported the following ways their family educators presented in the classroom and the community:
- CPC delivered information at 6 health fairs reaching over 445 families.
- Comprehensive SIDS awareness curriculum was integrated in five mother/baby classes reaching 30 new mothers.
- Comprehensive SIDS awareness curriculum was presented to four “Rookies Guide” expectant parent classes reaching 28 expectant couples.
- CPC instructed 30 at risk teenage mothers from three different Elizabeth Projects on SIDS. An additional 63 adults who were either caretakers or relatives, including some of the fathers, participated in these classes.
- A SIDS workshop was presented at the June 12, 2004 Community Health Fair in Church Hill. Formal presentations were delivered on the half hour from 1:00 -4:00 pm. Over 200 families attended, almost entirely from at-risk populations.
Commonwealth Parenting Center, now in its twentieth year, continues to fulfill its mission of “helping parents help themselves through education, support and skill development. " For more information please contact the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation at info@hayeshitzemanfoundation.org.
Hayes Hitzeman Foundation Distributes Grants
The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation distributed 2 grants in 2003. One grant was given to Commonwealth Parenting Center (see informatioin above for details) to help educate parents-to-be about SIDS. Personal consultation will be conducted to provide as much information as possible about how to prevent SIDS and how to educate others that may care for one’s child about SIDS.
The Foundation has also distributed a grant for research that will be conducted by collecting statewide data to help determine possible causes of SIDS.
Please contact Kyra Oliver Hitzeman at 804-708-0033 or at info@hayeshitzemanfoundation.org for more information.
Partnering with the March of Dimes: We are getting the Word Out!
The alarming increase in premature births over the last decade has prompted the March of Dimes to launch a new campaign to raise public awareness of the problem of prematurity and, ultimately, to find ways to reduce the occurrence of premature birth.
The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation worked closely with the March of Dimes of Central Virginia to determine how best to reach people through this campaign. We developed a plan stating that each group that receives a grant for the campaign is required to disseminate information about SIDS and SIDS prevention in our community. In Central Virginia, this will help us reach over 1000 people with face to face consultation about SIDS and thousands more will receive brochures and other useful information.
Speaking Engagements
HHF will determine and accept any opportunity to speak out to help educate. We are currently working on ways to educate others via magazines, both locally and nationally, developing a "This Side Up" campaign and any other opportunities for local and national exposure to create awareness and educate in hopes of preventing another death caused by SIDS.
March of Dimes Named by Worth Magazine as a Top Charity for Second Consecutive Year:
Magazine Singles Out March of Dimes as a leading U.S. Health Charity
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., DECEMBER 20, 2002 - For the second consecutive year, the March of Dimes has been named one of the nation's top charities in Worth Magazine's annual "America's 100 Best Charities" issue. Click here for the full story.
Hayes Hitzeman Foundation Joins With March of Dimes
For Public Awareness Program
RICHMOND, VA., DECEMBER 12, 2002- The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation has joined with the March of Dimes to promote research and education of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention. Click here to read more.
December 8, 2002
Joy to the World Silent Auction
Our First Event was the Joy to the World Silent Auction sponsored by Cabo's Corner Bistro, and in conjunction the March of Dimes and the Calvert Giving Fund. It was a huge success raising $19,000, far above our goal. Click here for more.
SIDS Awareness Day Held at the Village Ukrops
The Hayes Hitzeman Foundation passed out brochures and talked to parents, babysitters, grandparents and parents to be about SIDS at the 9600 Patterson Ave. Richmond, Va. 23229 on September 28, 2002. The day was a great success. Many mothers and parents to be noted that they had uncertainties in terms of preventative measures for SIDS and were grateful for our efforts in reaching out.
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