Page 2273 - Week 07 - Thursday, 23 June 2005
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Red Nose Day, held annually on the last Friday in June, is the major fundraiser for SIDS and Kids. Funds raised through Red Nose Day activities assist us in providing our vital services and programs.
SIDS and Kids is an international leader in the field of health promotion, dedicated to the elimination of sudden and unexpected infant death. Best known for SIDS-related research and education programs, in 2002 we changed our name to SIDS and Kids to reflect the expansion of our services. We now also provide much-needed counselling and support for all families and those in the community who have suffered the sudden death of an infant or young child, regardless of the cause.
Since 1990, the SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping program has been instrumental in reducing the SIDS infant mortality rate by 85%, equalling more than 4,000 Australian babies’ lives saved. Each month about 200 Australian children die suddenly and unexpectedly, and for each death more than 60 people are affected and may require support. SIDS and Kids organisations have a wide range of well-established programs and 28 years experience supporting the community since the organisation was founded. Our professional counsellors and trained volunteer peer supporters work together to help families through the tragic death of their children. Our expanded bereavement programs are now offered to all families whose children have died from causes such as stillbirth, neonatal death, SIDS, a fast onset illness, drowning, poisoning, fire or motor vehicle accident.
In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by SIDS and Kids organisations around Australia. Since then, people, cars, and buildings around the nation have joined in the fun.
The red nose always brings a smile to people’s faces. By wearing a red nose you can be silly for a great cause.
Indeed, you can now have a red nose, a pen, a badge, a lapel pin, a hero bear or a frog. Proceeds from red nose day assist the SIDS and Kids organisation in providing the following vital services and programs: the 24-hour, 365 days a year crisis outreach and ongoing bereavement support for families and the community following the sudden and unexpected death of an infant or young child from 20 weeks gestation to six years; the SIDS and Kids safe sleeping program, an evidence-based health promotion campaign which offers practical advice to parents and health professionals about how to best reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep accidents; and research into the causes and prevention of a sudden and unexpected death in the perinatal period and infancy. The brochure continues:
SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age, with onset of the lethal episode apparently occurring during sleep, that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including the performance of a complete autopsy, and review of the circumstances of death and the clinical history ... In 1988, when Red Nose Day first started, 479 Australian babies died from SIDS. With Red Nose Day income, SIDS and Kids organisations funded research and produced the SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping health promotion campaign, leading to a drop to 73 SIDS deaths in 2003.
So 479 SIDS deaths in 1988 down to 73 SIDS deaths in 2003. The brochure continues:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .