NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: Dr. Kattwinkel, who chairs the Task
Force on Infant Positioning initiated by the American Academy of
Pediatrics, can be reached today and Friday at (804) 924-5428.
National SIDS Awareness Day is Friday, April 7.

                                       Contact: Katherine Jackson

                         MEDIA ADVISORY

     Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is responsible for more
deaths among infants--nearly one baby every hour of every day--than
any other cause in the United States. 

     SIDS describes the sudden death of an infant that remains
unexplained after all known and possible causes have been carefully
ruled out.  It strikes babies of all races, ethnic and socio-
economic origins without warning.  In fact, most SIDS victims
appear healthy prior to death. While there is no medical
explanation for SIDS, Dr. John Kattwinkel, pediatrician and
director of Newborn Services at the University of Virginia, made
the following suggestions for reducing the risks of SIDS: 

     --Parents should place healthy, full-term infants on their
backs or sides for sleeping. This positioning of infants has been
endorsed by a coalition of federal and private agencies, based on
data indicating that in countries where the practice has been in
place, SIDS deaths dropped significantly. This sleeping position
does not apply to certain infants with breathing problems or
infants with excessive spitting up after feeding.  Parents should
discuss this recommendation with their pediatrician.

     --Use firm bedding materials.  A firm, flat mattress in a
safety crib should be used for infants. Avoid placing sleeping
infants on beanbag cushions, sheepskins, foam pads, foam sofa
cushions, synthetic filled adult pillows and foam pads covered with
comforters.  Waterbeds should also be avoided.   

     --Women should not smoke during pregnancy. Babies exposed to
tobacco smoke in-utero are at more than double the normal risk for
SIDS. And, constant smoke exposure both during and after pregnancy
triples a baby's risk for SIDS.
                               ###
                                                    April 6, 1995