Thousands
of children are injured or killed as a result of child abuse every year
worldwide. The most common cause for inflicted brain injury in the first
two years of life is shaken baby syndrome (SBS). SBS is a serious brain
injury resulting from a baby or toddler being violently shaken. Shaken
baby can cause blindness, brain damage and death.
In
the United Stated each year an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 children are
shaken. Of these tiny victims, 25 percent die as a result of their injuries
and 80 percent are left with some form for brain injury. (National
Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome www.dontshake.org))
With a
great increase of SBS victims at Schneider Childern's Hospital we believe
that to
dramatically reduce the incidence of SBS we needed to educate our community
about the dangers of shaking a baby. Along with this we are providing
education information on how to cope with a crying baby. Often, shaking
a baby is an adult's reaction to the stress and frustration of trying
to quiet a crying infant.
Child
abuse can be prevented and this program is an important step in bringing
about positive change.
This
program is supported
by
Kohl's Care for Kids
