October is National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month and SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants. From 2002 to 2006 in Georgia, SIDS was the third leading cause of death with 621 infant deaths 

 

Program associate and new mom Nadia Hurst practiced keeping her baby safe by breastfeeding and after feeding, always placing him on his back for safe sleep alone.

To reduce SIDS and other sleep-related deaths, Georgia's public health message to parents and caregivers is that the baby always sleeps alone, always on his back, and always in his crib. That was the message delivered last week by First Lady Sandra Deal, the Georgia Children's Cabinet, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as they announced a joint public health education campaign targeting parents and caregivers.

New public health signage is now visible in government buildings in Georgia reminding parents and caregivers of the safest way to put a baby to sleep for naps or at night. Georgia officials are focusing on reducing the risks of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death to decrease overall infant mortality rates.

The national Safe to Sleep campaign, launched by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and formerly known as Back to Sleep, is promoting three key messages to mothers and caregivers to reduce the likelihood of SIDS or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID): babies sleep safest on their backs, every sleep time counts, and sleep surface matters.

DPH employees are familiar with the risk factors for SIDS and are breastfeeding, practicing safe sleep for their babies, not smoking during pregnancy or after the birth, giving baby tummy time when awake and someone is watching and having regular checkups and childhood immunizations.

 

Lesson For Fast Food Lovers

Ambience Plays a Role In Food Consumption and Enjoyment

 

Imagine a night out on town, a delicious dinner awaits. Sounds of violin strings playing in the background, the chandelier lights twinkle from the ceiling, and a waiter attends the table with diligence. Momentarily, he brings out a fresh plate of seared salmon with roasted potatoes and fresh corn. Take in the smell of the food, the ambience of the restaurant, and the hunger in the pit of the stomach lulls. These were the findings from researchers at Cornell University, who recently discovered that the lighting and music in a restaurant can affect the consumption of food and enjoyment of the meal of diners.

In particular, the scientists found that a restaurant's atmosphere can cause people to feel stimulated and overeat or eat faster. The ambiance can also cause individuals to stay longer in the dining hall and order dessert, even if they hadn't planned to do so when they first arrived. The bright lights, loud noise, and glowing colors at fast-food restaurant can also make individuals feel more hectic than relaxed. The results of the study were recently published in Psychological Reports.

"When we did a makeover of a fast-food restaurant, we found that softer music and lighting led diners to eat 175 fewer calories and enjoy it more," lead author Brian Wansink, a professor of marketing and director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, commented in an article by Fars News Agency.