WHY RUN/WALK?

Joyce Davis lost her son Garret due to adding a supplementary mattress that was advertised as suitable for that brand of crib.  Davis’ son tragically suffocated between the outer wall of the crib and the mattress.  Today, as President of Keeping Babies Safe, (www.keepingbabiessafe.org) a national non-profit organization, Davis speaks out about crib safety and the need for education, so this tragedy need never be repeated.

“When I lost my son, there weren’t any national laws overseeing crib and mattress safety,” says Davis.  Now, we have the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that will help enforce more stringent policies on manufacturers and recall unsafe cribs from the market.  The important thing for parents to know is that regardless of these new laws, most unsafe cribs have never been recalled.  Knowledge is the best defense against these unsafe cribs and sleeping conditions and that is what Keeping Babies Safe provides to parents and the public at large.” 

In the past two years more than 11 million cribs, bassinets and play yards have been recalled for safety reasons.  The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, including the crib section sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein, which makes retailers of second-hand cribs responsible for selling safe merchandise, will go a long way to prevent these tragedies.  But laws alone don’t keep infants safe.  Parents cannot rely on legislature to ensure their child’s safety.  Joyce Davis points out that parents must make sure that if they use a new crib, the parts and maintenance are in good order and if they are using a second-hand crib, it conforms to current safety standards.  In addition, safe-sleeping practices should be adhered to. "The biggest tragedy about deaths or injuries caused by the cribs themselves is that they are completely preventable.”

MISSION:
Keeping Babies Safe (KBS) www.keepingbabiessafe.org is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education, assistance and leadership in keeping babies safe from preventable injuries associated with unsafe cribs and unsafe sleep environments.   Keeping Babies Safe provides all the necessary crib and sleep safety information, product recall information and safety tips so parents can stay informed and be vigilant about keeping their children safe.   Keeping Babies Safe, in tandem with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC) created  “Safe Sleep for Babies” videos and pamphlets to launch a nationwide hospital educational campaign (in English and Spanish) to educate new parents on how to create and maintain a safe sleeping environment for their babies and eradicate preventable death and injury to their children. These videos are intended to prevent infant deaths and keep babies safe in their nursery.

We are developing relationships with the top children's hospitals nationwide that will be showing the videos through their in-network TV monitors in postpartum delivery rooms, NICU areas, and other relevant educational areas to reach as many new mothers as possible.  The videos feature on-camera appearances by Joyce Davis, President of KBS, Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the CPSC, and Dr. O. Marion Burton President of the American Academy of Pediatrics demonstrating safe sleep procedures and addressing clinical concerns and baby safety issues. Well known journalist and parent, Joan Lunden provides on-camera introduction, conclusion and voice-over narration at key moments throughout the video.  To view these videos you can log onto our website www.keepingbabiessafe.org or go to the CPSC's website cpsc.gov

Keeping Babies Safe will continue to work as an advocate and information resource for parents to ensure that cribs and sleeping environments for children remain safe and that no one ever has to lose their child because of an unsafe crib.

For more information about crib and sleeping safety, product recalls and current consumer crib safety legislation visit Keeping Babies Safe. 

Click here to get started and register for the Run/Walk.