According to the CDC SUID Case Registry Project, every year approximately 150 sleep-related infant deaths occur in Michigan. That’s about three deceased infants a week. The causes typically include a person or an object in the baby’s sleep space that leads to suffocation. Common objects associated with these events include pillows, blankets and stuffed toys. Sadly, preventable sleep-related causes are the number one contributor of infant deaths in Michigan, as it is in many areas around the United States.
In this episode we welcome Dr. Samantha Mishra DO, MPH back to the show. Sam is the EMS for Children Coordinator for the State of Michigan. Today, my buddy Sam has brought along representatives from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Infant Safe Sleep Program. Their mission is to prevent sleep-related infant deaths. Our guests include Colleen Nelson, LMSW, the Michigan Infant safe sleep program coordinator, as well as Patti Kelly, LMSW, MPH, the sleep program consultant. Part of their job is to know the incidence, occurrences and circumstances of infant deaths in the entire State of Michigan. They are most familiar with our State-wide data, so it makes sense to bring them into the fold to help guide us towards understanding the problem in our back yard. Understanding the problem and appreciating what we can do to solve it is vitally important.
The State of Michigan EMS office and the Infant Safe Sleep Program have been working very hard to bring the DOSE Program to Michigan. In this episode, our guests will help us appreciate what is at stake for newborns sleeping in unsafe situations. Then, they’ll describe what the State of Michigan Infant Safe Sleep Program is doing to team up with EMS to reduce the number of preventable sleep-related infant deaths every year.
For more information check out DOSEprogram.com, as well as Michigan.gov/SafeSleep to learn more.
Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org. Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. and follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.
Contact the episode host or guests:
Geoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/C
Creator, host and producer, EMS on AIR Podcast
Firefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire Department
EMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority
Director of Education, American CME
Qi@ocmca.org
Samantha Mishra DO, MPH
EMS for Children Coordinator – State of Michigan
MDHHS
Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness
MishraS@michigan.gov
Colleen Nelson, LMSW
Infant Safe Sleep Program Coordinator – MDHHS
nelsonc7@michigan.gov
Patti Kelly, MPH, LMSW
Infant Safe Sleep Program Consultant
Kellyp2@michigan.gov