News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Donley's Legislation Advocates Education to Fight Infant Abuse

For Immediate Release: August 13, 1997 Contact: Senator Dave Donley at (907) 258-8181.

Anchorage -- Senator Dave Donley (R-Anchorage) has sponsored legislation (Senate Bill 117) which will help combat Alaska's high infant mortality rate by incorporating "infant care" instruction into Alaska's high school health education curriculum. SB 117 passed the Senate unanimously last session and is under consideration in the House of Representatives.

"SB 117 is a preventative measure that will help provide Alaska’s future parents the skills they need to help stop infant mortality," said Senator Donley. "This legislation is sorely needed, especially in light of numerous recent news reports of tragic infant abuse cases," added Senator Donley.

Alaska's prenatal and infant care programs are successfully reducing dangers to infants under 3 months of age. However, for infants age 3 months to 1 year, Alaska still suffers from a consistently higher rate of mortality than the rest of the United States.

Donley noted that one of the leading causes of death for infants is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 100% of infants who died of SIDS in Alaska from 1992 - 1995 were found in the prone sleep position, had been placed to sleep on inappropriate bedding, or had a mother who smoked cigarettes. Clearly these are factors which could be reduced through proper education.

Abuse and neglect are also significant factors in the health and welfare of infants that proper education could help reduce.

"These are dangers to infants that could be significantly reduced and hopefully eliminated with proper infant care education," Donley said.

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