Fredericksburg, VA (April 9, 2019) –Women’s & Children’s Care Services at Mary Washington Hospital was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program at the level of Silver Safe Sleep Leader for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. In addition to being Cribs for Kids® partners, Mary Washington Hospital was recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for parents, staff and the community.

Promoting Safe Sleep concepts begins in Mary Washington Healthcare childbirth education classes. Those concepts are reinforced during a hospital stay with the birth of a child and upon discharge. All babies born at Mary Washington Hospital also receive a Halo Sleep Sack that promotes “Back is Best” safe sleep.

“Mary Washington Hospital is proud to be recognized as a leading hospital in the Safe Sleep effort of reducing infant sleep-related deaths. Sleep is essential for both the infant and parents. Our Women’s and Children’s nurses and staff are committed to providing the most up-to-date education and resources to new parents to ensure everyone can rest safely,” says Linda Koch, Corporate Director, Women’s Services.

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

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About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 40 facilities and services including Mary Washington Hospital, a 451-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a nonprofit health system and has a long-standing commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, please log onto www.MaryWashingtonHealthcare.com.

About Cribs for Kids®

For more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program visit http://www.cribsforkids.org/safesleephospitalcertification, or call Tiffany Price, the Director of Hospital and Community Initiatives @ 412-322-5680 ext.112.