COVID pandemic leads to unsafe sleep deaths

The Tampa Bay region had an increase in preventable deaths in March 2020. The Prevent Needless Deaths campaign is attributing the rise in deaths caused by unsafe sleep to COVID-related reasons.

During the pandemic, parents are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety, and they’re overwhelmed with trying to keep older kids on track with virtual learning while balancing the demands of working at home, or dealing with furloughs and job loss.

Stress and distraction are two factors that can be deadly for infants. Unsafe sleep deaths can be prevented by following the ABCs of safe sleep – Alone on their Backs in a Crib

Dexter Lewis, public relations manager for the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, talked with ABC Action News about the importance of unsafe sleep prevention – even during a pandemic.