SANDUSKY — Firelands Regional Medical Center was recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a Gold Safe Sleep Hospital for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. Firelands is one of only 10 hospitals in Ohio with this designation. “This certification recognizes Firelands’ commitment to the safety of newborns by bringing awareness to eliminating infant sleep-related deaths,” said Jennifer Rickard, MSN, RN, CSRN, director of Center for Women & Newborns at Firelands. “Safe sleep practices are implemented in the hospital setting and parents are educated on the importance of creating a safe sleep environment.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 3,500 sleep-related deaths among babies in the United States each year. The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids, a national infant safe sleep organization dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to sudden unexplained infant death, accidental suffocation, and other deaths related to unsafe sleep practices.

As a Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospital, Firelands Regional Medical Center is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and providing training programs for healthcare team members and family caregivers. Visit firelands.com/maternity for more information on Firelands Center for Women & Newborns and tips for creating a safer sleep environment.