SIDS

A detailed Summary of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has always been a topic I wondered about but knew very little information on. I was about fifteen years old when I first became familiar with SIDS. Waking up to the flashing red and blue lights as the sound of the loud siren became closer and closer, I looked out my window and noticed the ambulance was at the house next door. I quickly jumped up and put on my robe and house shoes. I opened my bedroom door and ran down the hall to my mother's room. I shouted, "Mom" and told her there was an ambulance outside. She grabbed my hand and rushed out the door. There were other neighbors outside by then trying to see what was going on. We watched from our porch as the medical workers raced back and forth to the ambulance getting the equipment that was needed. My mom told me to stay on the porch while she tried to see what was going on. She walked across the street and started asking the other neighbors if they knew of anything or if anyone had been hurt. The little old lady with the gray hair from the house down the street replied, "The Johnson's new born, Alex, isn't breathing." Not knowing exactly what all this was about, I saw my mother walking back towards the porch as she wiped the tears

Since SIDS involves sleeping and possible problems in breathing, sleep apnea has been thought as having a part in this. Some studies do not support this because about ten percent of SIDS victims are known to have sleep apnea before death. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which there are pauses in the breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is thought as being an adult disorder but is often experienced by children (Cohen, 1999).

After this night, I always wanted to find out more information on SIDS and I made a promise to myself that when I got older, I would find out exactly what is so I would have a better understanding about it. When talking with T. Henderson from CDHC Medical Center, she explained to me how SIDS is the most leading cause of death in infants between the ages of one month and one year and the origin of SIDS is still unknown (personal communication, October 25, 2001). In the United States, about five to ten thousand babies die each year due to the cause of crib death. Most infants with SIDS are between the ages of two and four months. Almost 90 percent of babies who die from SIDS are under the age of six months (Mindell, 1997).

Unfortunately, babies can die in their sleep. Mother tried explaining to him that parents from all walks of life, from the four corners of the earth, have experienced this devastating disease. Even though, at the time, Mr. Johnson thought it was his fault, my mother tried to keep him in good spirits. Rubbing his back and giving him a hug, she told him everything would be just fine. Mother insisted on giving Mr. Johnson a ride to the hospital because he was in no shape to be driving alone. She made us go in the house and lock the door as her and Mr. Johnson got into the car. Amanda and I sat in the window and watched as they drove away.

There aren't any ways to prevent SIDS but there have been many suggestions on reducing your child's risk of becoming a victim of crib death. Sleep positions are very important when it comes to newborn babies. This wasn't a problem in the Johnson's case. This was their fourth child so they were familiar with laying the baby on their sides. It is sometimes said that a baby may choke on their vomit if they are asleep and they happen to vomit. Smoking around babies or smoking during a pregnancy can also increase the risk of your child getting SIDS so smoking around infants should not take place. In the Johnson's case, overheating with clothes and blankets played an important role. You should dress your baby with as little or as much clothing as yo

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Approximate Word count = 1729
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science