Illinois State Senate District 38 issued the following announcement on April 17.
Unsafe sleep environments are often a large contributor to infant deaths labeled as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) said State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris), who is chief sponsor of legislation that puts stricter requirements in place following an investigation where a child died suddenly and unexpectedly. Senate Bill 1568 passed the Senate on Wednesday, April 10.
SB 1568 would require coroners to conduct an autopsy following the investigation as well as list any environmental factors that may have contributed to the child’s death. The bill would also require the Department of Public Health to publish current data that it receives from coroner reports so that the public has access to reporting concerning SIDS.
“Too often, infant deaths are being ruled as SIDS even when there are unsafe factors present at the scene where the infant passed,” said Sen. Rezin. “By just putting SIDS on the death certificate, potentially valuable information is being left out that could help prevent infant deaths in the future.”
The legislation was brought to Sen. Rezin by a constituent, Ashley Lamps, who lost her son in 2013 to SIDS. Lamps now runs a foundation that advocates for SIDS awareness and the use of safe sleep practices.
SB 1568 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Original source can be found here.
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