Province Sets Aside Money to Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome

Saturday, April 12, 2008 03:45 AM

The B.C. Government is investing $1.4 million in an education and prevention program that will give every new parent in B.C. resources and information to better understand inconsolable crying in infants and help lower the incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

"The health and safety of children and youth in B.C. is the first priority of the Ministry of Children and Family Development," says Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen . "By providing Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC with $1.4 million over four years, our goal is to significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by Shaken Baby Syndrome - a violent form of child abuse."

Over the coming year, new parents will receive educational materials called The Period of PURPLE Crying. The package consists of a 10-minute DVD and an 11-page booklet, available in English and six other languages. The materials will help new parents and caregivers understand normal crying patterns in young infants and provide strategies to help cope with periods of inconsolable crying.

Each year in B.C. five to 15 children will suffer traumatic brain injury from shaking and require
hospitalization. One in four will die, and of those who survive, approximately 80 per cent will suffer from some form of life-long brain injury, such as cognitive impairment, developmental delays, blindness or cerebral palsy.

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Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 03:45 AM in Health by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 12 2008 7:39 AM

Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome?
Would that be like "preventing" Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome?
How do you do that?
I don't think education has much to do with it.
I seriously doubt that this could be taught,seems it is more of a reaction due to frustration,circumstances,social pressures etc.
Most people already understand that you DON'T shake a baby!

Posted by: heidi1555 on April 12 2008 8:49 AM

"I seriously doubt that this could be taught,seems it is more of a reaction due to frustration,circumstances,social pressures etc."

They should come up with some sort of stress test on the parents after the first prenatal visit to the doctors.

Posted by: gitterdun on April 12 2008 8:55 AM

"The Period of PURPLE Crying"........doesn't that seem a little odd? I really hope that they aren't recommending that the parents just let a kid cry. It'll be a new defense strategy......I didn't really know that the kid was sick/hurt/hungry/needed help cause I was taught they "just cry".

Posted by: Gingerbread Grandma on April 12 2008 11:09 AM

This is some of the most wonderful news I've heard in a long time. Child abuse is often kept in the closet in Canada. Shaken Baby Syndrome happens more often than we would like to believe. Yes, everyone knows you shouldn't shake a baby. But... It's not just about shaking and it's not just about babies. Children up to the age of 6 can suffer the same damaging effects of this type of abuse. Children who are shaken, thrown or slammed against a surface, even a sofa or mattress can also suffer brain damage. It's the acceleration-deceleration whiplash effect that does the damage (similar to a car accident). Often caregivers will shake a young child to stop it from crying. The child becomes quiet, has a dazed unfocused look and calms down or seems to go to sleep. But that's brain damage happening! The end result: learning disabilities and behavioural disorders as the child gets older and enters the school system. Even though people know they shouldn't shake, when they are exasperated with the child's cries or behaviour, when they can't figure out why the child is crying or not listening to them, they lash out. Not all babies die from shaking and not all are brought to Emergency. It often depends on the degree of the shaking and if the child seems to return to normal and the caregiver's fear of being found out. Let's face it. This is a ME generation that demands immediate gratification. Not a lot of patience or empathy for others. SBS is caused by men in 80% of the cases. Boys are shaken more often than girls. It's always done behind closed doors without any witnesses. When a child is admitted to Emergency with (1) Bleeding of the brain, (2) Swelling of the brain, (3)Bleeding of the eyes), (3) Seizures,(4)Unconsciousness, (5) Difficulty breathing, it's a serious and in 25% of the cases, fatal situation. The child spends weeks, sometimes months, in Pediatric ICU, hooked up to ventilators, IVs, Monitors, etc. The child suffers an unspeakable hell. It brings you to your knees. It's never okay to shake, slam or throw a child just because the child is crying or having a stubborn temper tantrum. Take control of your anger before your anger takes control of you. You are the adult.

Posted by: Foo738 on April 12 2008 11:44 AM

Good information GG.
Heidi mentioned a stress test as well. Trouble is if a child has colic it is so unfamiliar that I don't know if a stress test ahead of the event could determine that
A very serious subject. Education of parents would be paramount and it sounds as though the government packet may help If it saves one baby that's good and hopefully more than one can be saved.