The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth has released her report titled Safe and Sound: A Special Report on the Unexpected Sleep-Related Deaths of 145 Manitoba Infants

Press Release

13-03, 2020

The report contains 13 specific recommendations to government to increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of services for infants and their families. The report offers a message of hope: unsafe sleep-related deaths can be reduced in our province by addressing the known risk factors. Improved public education, equal access to safe sleep resources, and improved professional training will contribute to reducing infant deaths.

In Canada, sudden and unexplained deaths remain the second leading cause of death for infants between the ages of one and 12 months. Sleep-related infant deaths are a not only a serious public health concern, but they are also a children’s rights issue. This report addresses the extent and nature of unsafe sleep-related deaths in Manitoba, examines the barriers and gaps that prevent the reduction of known risk factors, and makes 13 targeted recommendations to increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of services for infants and their families. What you will read in this report is a clear message of hope: unsafe sleep-related deaths can be reduced in our province by addressing the known risk factors. Most sleep-related infant deaths can be prevented by reducing the known risk factors and by placing the infant alone, on their back, and in a crib for every sleep.

Click here to read full report
Click here to read the Safe Sleep Pamphlet
Click here for the Safe Sleep Infographic

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