McLeod Safe Sleep

In 2014, sleep-related infant deaths claimed the lives of 31 infants in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Despite continuing progress in reducing infant mortality and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in South Carolina, sleep-related infant deaths remain a significant problem. As a result, McLeod Health and McLeod Safe Kids have joined statewide efforts to educate parents and communities on safe sleep.

In 2018, McLeod Regional Medical Center achieved the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program’s highest designation, Gold Safe Sleep Champion. The hospital was one of the first in the state to achieve this goal.

As a Gold Safe Sleep Champion, McLeod Regional Medical Center demonstrates a commitment to model and teach infant safe sleep best practices.

We model these best practices by clothing babies born at McLeod Regional Medical Center in wearable blankets. In addition, parents will receive a special wearable blanket as a gift from us when they go home.

We teach these best practices through education from our trained staff during your stay in the hospital as well as in the community through monthly education courses.

  • Know the Basics

    Protecting babies when they sleep is as simple as ABC.

    • A is for Alone. Babies should always be alone when they sleep. The use of pillows, bumper pads, or blankets is not safe, and a baby should never be in a bed with another person.
    • B is for Back. Place babies on their back when sleeping. Babies are born with poor muscle strength and head control. When placed on their backs to sleep, they are able to keep their airways open so they can breathe safely.
    • C is for Crib. Always place babies flat in a crib or safe sleep environment every time they sleep – during the day or night.

  • Then Pass It On

    Share the ABC’s of safe sleep with family, friends, church groups, daycare employees, babysitters and anyone else who many care for an infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports these startling statistics: one in five infant deaths occur when the infant is being cared for by someone other than a parent, and an infant who usually sleeps on his or her back but is mistakenly placed on their stomach to sleep, is 18 times more likely to suffer a sleep-related death.

  • Message from Dr. Moeckel

    In this video, McLeod Neonatologist Dr. Doug Moeckel explains the basics of safe sleep and why it is important for parents to ensure a safe sleep environment for their children.

  • Monthly Education Course

    Each month, McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal offers a Safe Sleep education course. This course provides families with education designed to help decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and accidental death of infants while sleeping.

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    For a registered attendee and one guest, the Safe Sleep education course is FREE of charge. Space is limited, so please call McLeod Reservations and Scheduling at (843)777-2005 or 1-800-667-2005 to register. Upon registration, a form will be sent to the participant which must be completed and sent back one week prior to the date of the class. Click here to view upcoming dates.

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