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APRIL 24, 1997 AUGUSTA FOCUS
African-American babies at higher risk
for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
* African-American babies are
nearly two and one-halftimes more
likely than Caucasian babies todie
from Sudden Infant Death Syn
drome (SIDS), but there are some
simple steps all parents and other
care givers can take to reduce the
risk of SIDS.
SIDS is the sudden and unex
plained death of an infant under
one year of age. It strikes nearly
4,000 babies in the United States
every year. The cavses of SIDS are
still unclear, and it is currently
impossible to predict which infants
might fall victim to SIDS.
The American Academy of Pedi
atrics says the mostimportant way
to reduce the incidence of SIDS,
sometimes known as cribdeath, is
to place babies on their backs to
sleep. While health experts are
uncertain about the link between
the stomach sleeping position and
SIDS, there is some evidence that
aircanbecometrapped underneath
asleepinginfant, causing the child
Helpful tips prevent blood clots on long trips
Long airplane rides can be un
comfortableforanyone, but,forpeople
prone to blood clots, they can be
dangerous.
“Onlong flights, particularlytran
soceanicflights, itisimportant that
people pronetoblood clotskeep their
blood moving by taking afew simple
steps,” said Dr. Wayne J. Riley,
director of the Travel Medicine Ser
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tore-breathe exhaled air. The Acad
emy hasstated that sleeping on the
back is preferred; however, the side
position is considered an accept
ablealternative. :
Other steps that parents and
care givers can take to reduce the
risk of SIDS include:
-.Babies should sleep on firm sur
faces free of fluffy bedding and soft
toys or pillows. )
-Expectant mothersreceive early
and regular prenatal care. Moth
ers should not smoke, drink alco
hol or use drugs {unless prescribed
by a doctor) during pregnancy.
-Create a smoke-free environ
ment around your baby.
-Keep the temperature in the
baby’s room sothat it feels comfort
able to adults. Babies should not
get too warm when sleeping.
-Care givers should ensure that
babies receive immunizations on
schedule; and if the baby seems
sick, contact the baby’s doctor or
clinic right away.
viceat Baylor College of Medicine,in
Houston. The same is true for long
rides in cars, buses or trains.
For long flights or rides and to
avoid discomfort during shorter
flights or rides, Riley recommends
walking thelength of the plane,bus
or train at least once an hour. If
you’re in a car, stop hourly, get out
and walk around for a while.
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-If possible, consider breast-feed
ing your baby.
“Weare very proud ofthe Back to
Sleep campaign,” said Dr. Yvonne
Maddox, deputy director of the
National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development
(NICHD), a part of the National
Institutes of Health. “This cam
paign has important messages for
all babies, especially for those at
higher risk. Everyone who takes
care of infants needs to know how
to reduce the risk of SIDS for Afri
can-American babies.”
Dr. Maddox added that public
and private groups must enhance
their efforts toreach these popula
tions. “Itisessential that the simple
message of putting your baby on
his or her back to sleep reaches
everyone.”
The “Back to Sleep” campaign,
withthe U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services and the
Clinton Administration, is expand
ing to reach not only parents and
Other tips include: Flex your
ankles up and down when sitting.
Bloed tends to collect in the lower
extremities, and this simple exer
cise will encourage its movement.
Avoid really tight clothing. It can
restrict the free movement of blood
throughout thebody. Avoid sleeping
forlong periods. Drink lots of water.
Goodhydrationisimportant forblood
' W April 26,1997 48
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health professionals, but grand
parents, baby-sitters and day care
workers as well.
A convenient new source of SIDS
information for parents and others
is the Gerber Products Company,
which plans to print helpful tipson
the backs of three million Gerber
rice cereal boxes beginninginJune
1997. The Gerber Products Com
pany will alsoinclude the message
in mailings to 2.7 million parents
of newborns. In addition,arecorded
message about SIDS is currently
playing on the Gerber toll-free in
formation number (1-800-4-
GERBER), urging parents to place
their babies on their backs tosleep
and to talk to theirdoctors for more
information on infant sleep posi
tion. The messageis playingonthe
Gerber toll-free information num
ber seven days a week, 24 hours a
day.
The NICHD and its partners in
the campaign launched “Back to
Slee”in 1994.
volume and circulation. Take one
adult-size aspirinbefore departure.
This helps prevent the formation of
blood clots. Wear thigh-high sup
port stockings or panty hose. Riley
cautions against any hose thatcuts
off at the knee.
“Even if you have no history of
blood clots, these tips will make for
amore comfortableride,” said Riley.
INTRODUCING i
THE PUBLIX BABY CLUB ™ & gy |
TRI L e L B A
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. KNOW WHICH MARKET TO.GO TO. - ;
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B T eR e fi&%g‘é%fim L R e ,
4N,
& | will be a new mother in a few months and I'm having trouble
T ¥ . deciding whattype of diaper touse. Can you tell me some advantages
““” W and disadvantages of both cloth and disposable diapers to help me
it decide?
Ideally, you should choose between cloth and disposable diapers
before the baby arrives so you can stock up or make delivery arrange
ments ahead of time. To adults, there are advantages and disadvan
tagestoeach, buttoyour baby, there isrelatively little difference between
/%, ® clothanddisposable diapers.
4L Be The strongest arguments in favor of cloth diapers are that they are
“natural,” less expensive than disposables, softer toyour baby's skinand
ecologically sound. If you use a diaper service, cloth diapers are almost
as easy to use as disposables. You can fold them to fit an infant or a
toddler andthey comeinavariety of absorbencies and textures. Whether
you use a diaper service or wash cloth diapers yourself, the cost is
‘ substantially less than using disposables. ]
Disposable diapers are obviously more convenient than clothinsome !
ways, but there are some drawbacks to them. Because of their plastic |
liners, disposables may protect beddingand clothing well, but theydon't -
breathe as efficiently as cloth diapers and they trap moisture inside, |
increasing the risk of diaper rash. Even the new superabsorbent |
disposables can cause problems. They absorb moisture so well that
many parents leave them on toolong, thus actually increasing the risk o
diaper rash. (Plastic pants over cloth diapers can cause the same |
problem.) :
It's up to you to decide between the convenience of disposable
diapers and the cost effectiveness of cloth diapers. Both are good
choices. !
Information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, from the book, Caring !
for Your Baby and Young Child. :
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_ Where shopping is a pleasure SUPER MARKETS
New MCG study aims to
keep Medicaid recipients
out of nursing homes
The Medical College of Georgia
incooperation with areasocial ser
vice agenciesis one of four Georgia
sites to participatein a pilot study
aimed at keeping Medicaid recipi
ents healthier and out of nursing
homes and hospitals.
“Thisis long-term care service,”
said Linda Kendall, MCG’s opera
tions coordinator for Service Op
tions Using Resourcesin Commu
nity Environments (SOURCE).
“Our goal is to better manage the
health care and social services
adult Medicaid recipientsneed, par
ticularly older people with chronic
health problems.”
Marjorie P. Smith, commissioner
of the Department of Medical As
sistance, announced the pilot
projectlast Friday. Other partici
pating communities include At
lanta, Savannah and Hinesville.
“SOURCE goes in the direction
long-term care is heading,” said
Smith. “More and more elderly
people would prefer to stay in their
homes or near them and alterna
tives like these also help conserve
taxpayers’ money by using Medic
aid funds more effectively.”
Some 550 adult Medicaid recipi
ents in Richmond and Columbia
Counties willbe enrolled in the 18-
month pilot project scheduled tobe
operational by May 1.
Each participant will have a des
ignated case manager and primary
care physician. MCG will hire a
nurse practitioner to oversee care
management and is subcontract
ing with Eldercare of Augusta to
provide the nurse case managers,
Ms. Kendall said.
MCG family medicine physicians
with aspecial interest in geriatrics
as well as two geriatricians on
faculty will serve as the physi
cians. Community physicians with
an MCG affiliation also will be
offered the opportunity tobe a part
of the new health care team.
CSRA Agency on Aging will help
screen potential SOURCE enroll
ees. MCG also is partnering with
Autumn Care Adult Day Centerin
Augusta to provide daytime care
for those who need it.
Each participant’srelationship
with his case manager will begin
with an initial visit to the home
and last throughout the project,
Ms. Kendall said. She sees the
SOURCE case managers as per
sonal aides in getting participants
through today’s complex health
care system.
“Weare pleased to participatein
such an innovative program that
poolsthe resources of MCG and the
community to provide total care to
people who need it,” said Patricia
Sodomka, executive director of
MCG Hospital. “Managed care is
steering the entire health care sys
tem toward prevention and wellness
as a cost-saving measure, but we
believeit also provides an opportu
nity to improve the quality of life
and keep people healthier, happier
and at home.”
Forthe present, MCG SOURCE
will operate out ofthe MCG Ambu
latory Care center. However, the
program will move to a site off
campus within the year,” said
Kendall. “My goal is forus todo a
terrific job of taking care of these
people and to have a positive im
pact on their lives.”
Beginning April 16, anyone seek
ing more information can call the
MCG SOURCE office at(706)667-
4800 and ask for Ms. Kendall or
Donna Fick, MCG SOURCE Clini
cal Coordinator.