The 2003 annual report of the Regional Infant and Child Mortality Review Committee.

Abstract

The annual report of the Regional Infant and Child Mortality Review Committee (RICMRC) is attached. This Committee has as its mission the review of infant and child deaths so that information can be transformed into action to protect young lives. The 2003 review area includes South Dakota's Minnehaha, Turner, Lincoln, Moody, Lake, McCook, and Union Counties. In 2003 there was one death in this region due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), plus two infant deaths listed as undetermined that could potentially represent SIDS. Two of these three deaths had potential risk factors of soft bedding and prone sleeping. These data reflect the need to remain vigilant in the public campaign to promote "back to sleep" and safe sleeping environments for infants. There were 15 other deaths due to accidental injury, and ten related to motor vehicle crashes. In 2003 there were no child abuse homicides and one teenage suicide. The RICMRC invites other communities to join in its efforts to review deaths to prevent potential life threatening hazards to children in their local environs.