Senate Resolution No. 185

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
October 2019, as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to
recognize official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of
serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York
State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the
sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age that
remains unexplained after a thorough investigation; and

WHEREAS, SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between one
month and one year of age; each year, about 4,000 infants die
unexpectedly during sleep time, from SIDS, accidental suffocation, or
other unknown causes; and

WHEREAS, About 7.5% of infant deaths in New York State are referred
to as sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) and are attributed to
either unsafe sleep practices or, because no cause can be identified,
labeled as SIDS; and

WHEREAS, SIDS is sometimes called "crib death" because it is
associated with the time frame when the baby is sleeping; cribs
themselves do not cause SIDS, but the baby's sleep environment can
influence sleep-related causes of death; and

WHEREAS, Researchers suspect multiple conditions may lead to SIDS;
many scientists believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or
more conditions that cause unexpected responses to the internal and
external stressors common during an infant's life; and

WHEREAS, If caregivers can remove one or more outside stressors, by
creating a safe sleeping environment, they can reduce the risk of SIDS;
in order to create a safe sleeping environment, caregivers should
remember the ABC's of Safe Sleep - baby's should sleep Alone, on their
Back, in a safe Crib; and

WHEREAS, The Safe to Sleep program, created by the CDC and NIH also
recommends that no blankets, pillows or toys should be placed in the
crib, and that the baby sleep in the same room where parents sleep, but
never in the same bed; and

WHEREAS, While the prevalence of SIDS in the United States has
decreased by 50% over the last 20 years, SIDS remains the leading cause

of death for U.S. infants one month to one year of age in the United
States; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.