9 April 2003
SPROTT CONGRATULATES
SIDS NEW ZEALAND FOR PROMOTING
MATTRESS-WRAPPING TO PARENTS
MEDIA RELEASE
Dr Jim Sprott is congratulating cot death
prevention organization SIDS New Zealand for
adopting policies which actively promote
mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention.
The first cot death prevention organization to
break away from promoting solely Ministry of
Health advice, SIDS New Zealand is now - like Dr
Sprott - informing parents about mattress-wrapping
for cot death prevention.
Dr Sprott singled out for special praise the
bassinet loan scheme under which SIDS New Zealand
provides bassinets and mattresses to needy
parents. Mattresses lent out by SIDS New Zealand
are enclosed in mattress covers which meet Dr
Sprott’s specifications for cot death prevention,
and in addition parents are provided with Dr
Sprott’s full bedding instructions.
Research published by the Scottish Cot Death Trust
in the British Medical Journal in
November last year proved that the risk of cot
death rises markedly as mattresses are re-used
from one baby to the next(1) - a situation which
frequently occurs in poorer families.
“SIDS New Zealand are to be applauded for their
progressive stance in promoting mattress-wrapping
for cot death prevention,” said Dr Sprott.
“Bearing in mind that cot death is more prevalent
among low income families (especially Maori
families), SIDS New Zealand’s policy of issuing
wrapped mattresses to needy families is a great
step forward for cot death prevention in New
Zealand.
“Along with the eight-year Cot Life
2000 mattress-wrapping campaign(2),
SIDS New Zealand is now in the forefront of cot
death prevention in this country.”
Dr Sprott is encouraging members of the public who
wish to make a financial contribution to cot death
prevention to extend their support to SIDS New
Zealand.(3)
Notes:
1. Tappin et al, Used infant mattresses
and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland:
case-control study, British Medical Journal
2002;325:1007.
2. Since late 1994 Dr Sprott has been publicising
mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention
nationwide in New Zealand, and during that time a
very large number of babies have slept on wrapped
mattresses. There has been no reported cot death
among those babies, and during that period the New
Zealand cot death rate has fallen by 48% and the
Pakeha rate by an estimated 75%.
3. To contact SIDS New Zealand phone 0800-164455.
SIDS New Zealand is independent of the New Zealand
Cot Death Association (which ran the now
discontinued Red Nose Day appeal in New Zealand).
.
