|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT:
Lauren Rooney |
State Rep. Lawrence Curry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Curry presents local Cribs for Kids program a $5,000 state grant
Money will help more local babies sleep safer
JENKINTOWN, Jan. 17 – Most new babies come home to nicely appointed nurseries complete with cribs of their own. But for many Montgomery County babies born to low-income moms, such may not be the case. Too many times those babies come home to no cribs at all and may be laid to sleep on beds, couches, with siblings or in other unsafe sleeping arrangements.
That’s why state Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery/Phila., is pleased to present the Montgomery County Cribs for Kids Program a state grant of $5,000 to be used to purchase pack-n-play cribs for mothers in need.
“This money will buy 100 new cribs for new mothers in Montgomery County,” Curry said. “And that means 100 new babies will sleep soundly and safely.”
The Montgomery County Cribs for Kids program was created in 2004 in response to an alarming number of SIDS deaths occurring, in part, due to bed sharing or other improper infant sleeping conditions. Barbara Hand, infant health coordinator for the Montgomery County Health Department, said that on average, the Cribs for Kids program distributes 15 cribs per month.
“SIDS happens in Montgomery County and while we are looking for answers why, we will continue to educate parents and our community about safe sleep and reducing the risk,” Hand said.
From 2001 to 2005, Montgomery County recorded 18 infant deaths due to SIDS and five infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping environments and bed sharing. In addition to cribs, Cribs for Kids also provides new parents with information regarding safe sleep for their infants, breastfeeding and immunizations.
For more information about Cribs for Kids, residents may contact Curry’s constituent service office at 215-572-5210 or the Montgomery County Health Department at 610-278-5117.
###lr/2007/agh l:\print\releases\Cribs4Kids.154