Portsmouth, NH; February 24, 2017 – Portsmouth Regional Hospital was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a “Silver Safe Sleep Leader” for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. They are one of the first hospitals in New Hampshire to receive the title.

Cribs for Kids - Safe sleep certified -Helping every baby sleep safter

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. In addition to being Cribs for Kids® partners, Portsmouth Regional Hospital was recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for parents, staff and the community.

“We are honored to receive this critical designation for Portsmouth’s Seacoast Family Care Services department,” stated Dean Carucci, CEO. “It provides peace-of-mind for the new parents delivering their babies at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and confirms our on-going commitment to the safety and well-being of our newest patients,” he continued.

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

The National Sleep Hospital Certification Program is well-aligned with the Maternal Child Health Bureau's vision of reducing infant mortality through the promotion of infant sleep safety as outlined in Infant Mortality CoIIN Initiative. Thirty-six states have designated SIDS/SUID/SRD as their emphasis to reduce infant mortality.

Get more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program.

About the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs, Kids In Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

According to Judith A. Bannon, Executive Director and Founder for Cribs for Kids®, “The program kicked off in June of 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Cribs for Kids® national headquarters. One hundred, forty-eight hospitals in 33 States and Quebec Canada are represented among the hospitals which have achieved the ‘Gold Champion’ status, or are working their way toward it. This will have a profound effect on the number of babies’ lives that will be saved.”