S M Beal1, R W Byard. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Adelaide Children's Hospital, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the reasons why it is difficult to decide whether to attribute some infant deaths to accidents or to SIDS. METHODOLOGY: To extract from infant deaths data in South Australia those where the cause of death is debatable. RESULTS: The risks associated with rocking cradles, bed sharing, bedclothes, couch sleeping, unsafe cots or beds and the prone position are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Uniform worldwide death scene investigations for all infant deaths should help identify unsafe sleeping conditions for infants.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the reasons why it is difficult to decide whether to attribute some infantdeaths to accidents or to SIDS. METHODOLOGY: To extract from infant deaths data in South Australia those where the cause of death is debatable. RESULTS: The risks associated with rocking cradles, bed sharing, bedclothes, couch sleeping, unsafe cots or beds and the prone position are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Uniform worldwide death scene investigations for all infant deaths should help identify unsafe sleeping conditions for infants.