Sleep-related deaths, suicide top board's watch list

Shaking a baby can cause harm because the brain is fragile and undeveloped.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Trumbull County's Child Fatality Review Board puts youth suicide and sleep-related deaths on top of its watch list of problems that need to be addressed.
The board presented its annual report Friday at Eastwood Mall.
Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, the county's forensic pathologist and among the board members at the presentation, said youth suicide is often tied to a breakdown in the family.
Billboards the board has produced encourage good family relationships. They advertise the words "Real Men Rock" to encourage male participation in the rearing of children.
"Parents need to be parents, not a friend," Dr. Germaniuk said of how he feels parents can avoid youth suicide. He added that looking for drug paraphernalia in the child's room, notes or other things that might indicate trouble with the child is appropriate.
In 2004, the most recent year statistics were available, three of the 35 deaths among children from birth to age 17 were attributed to suicide, the board reported.
The board has taken steps to get young teachers trained in suicide prevention.
'Never shake a baby'
As part of Abuse Prevention Month, the officials are also promoting a campaign to spread the "Never shake a baby" message.
Board members say shaking a baby often doesn't kill -- but does cause serious injuries such as blindness, seizures and eventual learning disabilities.
The reasons this harms a baby, officials say, is because of the larger size of a baby's head compared to their body and a fragile, undeveloped brain. Crying is the No. 1 reason an infant is shaken.
The board says to remember the following points:
Feeling frustrated is normal.
If a parent is losing control, put the baby in a safe place and take a break from the sound by calling a friend, listening to music or exercising and reminding yourself the crying will end.
Robert Kubiak, executive director of the county Children's Services Board, said that in the past five years, an average of three babies per year die in the county from unsafe sleep practices. These include adults sleeping with babies; babies becoming wedged between sofa cushions, or being smothered by a sleeping adult, another child or objects such as a comforter.
The review board says a baby should:
Sleep on his or her back.
Sleep in a crib with a firm mattress.
Sleep with a responsible adult nearby.
Sleep in a smoke-free room.
Billboards highlighting safe sleeping practices will be coming to the Niles area soon, officials said.
Additionally, pediatricians have been given pamphlets to hand out to patients to provide new parents with sleep-related information.
Nancy Norton, public health nurse coordinator with the county health department, said new parents are also encouraged to seek a visit from a home health nurse to receive advice on safety for the baby.
runyan@vindy.com