Baltimore health department pushes for action in sleep-related infant deaths (Fox 45)

The Baltimore City Health Department says the number of sleep-related infant deaths nearly doubled last year. In 2017, 13 babies died in their sleep in Baltimore City, compared to seven deaths the year before. On Tuesday, the department testified in front of the City Council. They are pushing to take more action against sleep-related infant deaths. “There are multifaceted issues to why someone might not put their baby to sleep safely,” Rebecca Dineen, co-leader of B’More for Healthy Babies. “These are conditions that are a result of their environment as much as it is knowledge of the right thing to do.”

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When I’ve asked experts about these approaches, it’s not that any of them are bad. It’s that they fall short. For instance, Leana Wen, the former health commissioner of Baltimore (and soon-to-be president of Planned Parenthood), said that the Support for Patients and Communities Act “is simply tinkering around the edges.”

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