WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital recently was recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a “Gold Safe Sleep Champion,” for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.
As a nationally certified Safe Sleep Hospital, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and providing training programs for healthcare team members and family caregivers.
"We want to send new families into the community with the very best tools to raise a healthy baby," said Sue Grant, nurse manager of the maternity department at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. "Safe sleep practices are so important. Remember the ABCs of safe sleep: Place babies alone, on their back, in an uncluttered crib."
The hospital has trained its maternity staff on patient education. After teaching parents about the importance of the ABCs of safe sleep, not smoking, using a firm flat mattress, breastfeeding and other safe sleep practices, the staff asks new moms to sign a "safe sleep pledge." To help families follow safe sleep practices at home, the hospital also gives all new babies a sleeping sack, for use instead of a blanket, and donates a portable crib to parents who do not have a crib at their home.
The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations.
"Sleep-related death 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 modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality."