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SIDS Foundation of Washington"in the belief that every child should live" |
The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation of Washington was established in 1961 as a statewide non-profit organization. The Foundation is supported solely by memorials and public donations.
Articles and Information
- Back To Sleep - What You Can Do to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- What Every New and Expectant Parent Should Know
- Commonly Asked Questions About SIDS: A Doctor's Response
- Reaching Out...
- Developmental Considerations Concerning Children's Grief
- The Grief of Children
For More Information
- Send an e-mail message to the SIDS Foundation of Washington at sids-wa@zipcon.net
- Visit their website at: http://www.sidsofwa.org
- Complete a Literature Request Form
Facts About SIDS
- It is the leading cause of death of infants between one week and one year of age.
- It is an unpredictable medical disorder.
- It is not contagious and it is not caused by immunizations or by child abuse.
- Researchers are getting closer to answers, but currently there are no explanations for the cause or causes of the deaths of these apparently healthy babies.
Reducing the Risk
Recent research suggests the risk of SIDS may be reduced by following a number of guidelines:
- Place healthy babies on their backs or sides to sleep, not on their tummies.
- Babies should be placed to sleep only on a firm mattress or other firm surface.
- Babies should be kept warm, but not too warm; the room should feel comfortable to you.
- Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby.
- Mothers should get early and regular care during pregnancy, and should consider breastfeeding.
- Call your doctor or clinic right away if your baby seems sick, and make sure he/she is immunized on schedule.
Mission
The SIDS Foundation of Washington is dedicated to the informational and emotional support of bereaved families, to the education of the general public and professionals and to the ultimate elimination of this tragic medical phenomenon through research.
The Foundation is lead by a 25-member Board of Trustees and employs one full- time and three part-time staff. Dedicated volunteers provide invaluable assistance in the offices and field.
The Foundation's Purposes
- Provide persons bereaved by SIDS, or other sudden deaths, with information and peer support
- Promote community awareness about SIDS and the grieving process so that the bereaved are treated compassionately and with understanding
- Support the medical and other professionals who deal with SIDS deaths so that these deaths are properly diagnosed, counseled and referred
- Support SIDS research, through both funding and subject participation
Foundation's Services
- Operation of a headquarters office in Seattle and a satellite office in Spokane, coordinating programs and telephone support, including a 1-800 phone line
- Sponsorship of peer grief support meetings across the state, with outreach to Idaho, Oregon and Alaska, providing local community support to the bereaved
- Maintenance of a network of "grief companions" providing one- on-one contact for bereaved parents, grandparents, siblings and childcare providers
- Distribution of a bi-monthly newsletter and continuously updated literature tailored to recipients' needs
- Sponsorship of community awareness and fundraising events, including annual research presentations, SIDS Awareness Month (October) and the "Back to Sleep" campaign
- Co-sponsorship, with the Washington State Department of Health, of programs and workshops to train and better inform first responders, professional counselors, public health nurses, foster parents, daycare providers and Foundation volunteers
- Promotion of an active Speakers' Bureau to enhance community awareness about SIDS, the grief process and available local resources
- Maintenance of loan libraries, including printed and audio- visual materials, in both Foundation offices. Also, placement of 13 additional collections in medical libraries across the state in association with the Joseph Mickey Krinbring Memorial Guild
- "In Celebration" events to celebrate and remember all of the babies lost to SIDS and the importance of their lives
Your Gifts And Memorial Donations Will Help In The Fight Against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Please make your tax-deductible gift payable to "SIDS Foundation of Washington, " and include the following information, as applicable:
- Your name and address
- Name of the loved one in whose memory the gift is being made
- Name of the living person and occasion for which an honorary gift is being sent
- Name and address where you would like us to send an acknowledgment.
