Bronx DA: Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark Announces Bronx Safe Sleep Task Force

BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL D. CLARK ANNOUNCES BRONX SAFE SLEEP TASK FORCE Free “Infant Safety Expo” Will Be Held On June 13, 2019 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced the Bronx Safe Sleep Task Force, a partnership between the Office of the Bronx District Attorney, BronxCare Health System, Administration for Children’s Services/NYC Safe Sleep Initiative, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, the NYPD Bronx Homicide Squad, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Homeless Services, Safe Horizon and Lincoln Hospital, in an effort to prevent infant fatalities. District Attorney Clark said “I am excited to announce the Bronx Safe Sleep Task Force, which was formed to reduce the deaths of infants due to unsafe sleep practices. Our children’s safety is paramount, and this new Task Force will inform the people of the Bronx on how they can keep their babies from harm. So far this year, six Bronx infants have died in their sleep, tragedies that were preventable.” Between 2014 and 2017, the Office of the Bronx District Attorney was notified of and investigated 32 sleep-related infant fatalities. In 2018, there were 14 sleep-related infant fatalities in the borough; and so far this year there have been six deaths. The Bronx has the most infant fatalities and infant deaths related to sleep among the five boroughs. The Bronx Safe Sleep Task Force works to raise awareness and to generate a cultural shift that will decrease infant deaths caused by suffocation from co-sleeping in a bed, excess bedding in cribs, and unsafe sleep positions. Additionally, the Bronx Safe Sleep Task Force will hold a free “Infant Safety Expo” at the New Settlement Community Center at 1501 Jerome Avenue on Thursday, June 13, 2019, for expectant parents, and parents or caregivers of children under the age of one year. The event will provide information from pediatricians and nurses on safe sleeping, infant CPR, babyproofing households and positive parenting. There will also be raffle prizes and refreshments.