Study: Fan use may lower the risk of SIDS

[mikie]

I saw this on CNN morning headline news and since we have a current thread about it, I figured it would be an interesting read...

Using a fan to circulate air seemed to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in a study of nearly 500 babies, researchers reported Monday.

Researchers took into account other risk factors and found that fan use was associated with a 72 percent lower risk of SIDS. Only 3 percent of the babies who died had a fan on in the room during their last sleep, the mothers reported. That compared to 12 percent of the babies who lived.

The rest of the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/10/06/sids.death.fan.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

Thread about SIDS:
http://www.emtlife.com/showthread.php?p=98853#post98853

 

[VentMedic]

Interesting article but I would have to know more about the demographics, social and economic status of the families, overall living conditions, what time of year observations were made (can't imagine a fan in a Chicago winter) etc.

 

[Hoofguy]

A fan circulating warm air wouldn't be bad. I guess I can see how the constant movement of air and stimulation would maybe help prevent some cases of SIDS.

Wild..

In the little town I live, I'm on the VFD and we have a baby on a monitor in town. We have run on him quite a few times, maybe I'll suggest this to the mother and see what the results are.

 

[VentMedic]

A fan circulating warm air wouldn't be bad. I guess I can see how the constant movement of air and stimulation would maybe help prevent some cases of SIDS.

Wild..

In the little town I live, I'm on the VFD and we have a baby on a monitor in town. We have run on him quite a few times, maybe I'll suggest this to the mother and see what the results are.

When there is a monitor in place there are other conditions that are known cardiac, prematurity etc). SIDS is a syndrome and the cause is difficult to define. Before suggesting various alternatives, make sure the baby does not have a condition that might make him sensitive to temp changes or direct air on sensory sites. Cool air on certain receptor site will cause a baby to brady down and go apneic. Cooling the body temp in general too much will also cause bradycardia and apnea.

I would consult the baby's physician first.