New Wisconsin Data Released in the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Report

Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin (Alliance) and its partners have released a report on 2013 sudden and unexpected infant deaths. Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the death of an infant younger than age 1 that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, and whose cause of death is not immediately obvious before investigation. In 2013, 414 Wisconsin infants died (56 were SUID cases). More than 20 percent of Wisconsin counties experienced a SUID in 2013. SUID report highlights:

Of the 56 SUID cases, 55 were in an unsafe sleep environment as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 86 percent of SUID cases there were at least three risk factors present.
Families of all ages, races and education levels experienced a SUID.
Of the 56 SUID cases, one-third were born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation).
22 percent of SUID infants were not placed on their back to sleep at the time of incident. 76 percent of SUID infants were not placed in a crib, pack and play, or bassinet to sleep. 87 percent of SUID infants had soft objects or loose bedding in their sleep environment (most commonly comforters, blankets and pillows). 53 percent of SUID infants were exposed to secondhand smoke after birth.

SUID is highly preventable, and is the third cause of infant death after preterm-related causes and congenital anomalies. Of the 414 Wisconsin infants that died in 2013, more than 60 percent died due to prematurity and 30 percent of SUID cases were born preterm. Everyone plays a role in preventing SUID deaths. Each individual, agency and community serves a unique role in sharing the important message of infant safe sleep. The data included in this report highlights many opportunities for prevention at the individual, interpersonal, community and policy level to decrease SUID rates. At a minimum, everyone should be educated on the importance of babies sleeping ALONE, on their BACK, in a CRIB, in the SAME ROOM as their caregiver and in SMOKEFREE air.

This report is the result of a collaborative project between the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee Health Department, Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Public Health Madison-Dane County, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin is affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. The Alliance’s mission is to ensure all Wisconsin children are healthy, safe and able to thrive. Learn more at www.chawisconsin.org.

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