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Earlier this year, we were blessed with the opportunity to connect with Brianne Edwards, founder of Lach’s Legacy, who reached out to us to explore partnership opportunities for our Kind Bassinets. Brianne started her non-profit in 2008 after losing her own son to SIDS and is now a passionate advocate for safe sleep, bringing awareness to SIDS, and providing comfort to families when it is needed most, education to those who can potentially reduce a child’s risk of a sudden death and hope for an answer where there currently is no explanation.
In addition to the work she does with Lach’s Legacy, she also works as an RN and serves on several boards within the infant health and safety space community. Through her work with the Department of Heath Safe Sleep Group, and the Infant and Child Death Review Board, Brianne has connected with many other organizations in the Great Plains who are also dedicated to providing resources to their community; one that is so profoundly affected by SIDS due to extreme poverty, lack of transportation and limited access to local healthcare.
We were fortunate to connect with Brianne and several other advocates in the region from the Department of Health Safe Sleep Work Group, Indian Health Services, and the Great Plains Maternal & Child Health Group to better understand some of these challenges and the striking statistics that they are actively working to better:
- "Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed is the leading cause of preventable post neonatal child deaths in South Dakota. Nearly 80% of the infant deaths in South Dakota (2017-2021) are occurring in unsafe sleep environments such as an adult bed, couch, chair, car seat, Rock ‘n Play, or swing." *
- "Surface sharing is another top cause of infant mortality in SD. Over half (69%) of the infants were sharing a sleep surface with another adult and/or child when found." *
-" Fifty-five percent (55%) were bed sharing an adult bed with another adult and/or child when found." *
Many factors come together to create risky environments, including poverty and homelessness, overcrowded living conditions, lack of access to healthcare, and more. As such, these incredible advocates work tirelessly to support those in need through:
- Educational Resources
- Pursuing grants (like the ones used for DockATot Kind Bassinets and Sleep Bags)
- Increasing access to safe and quality care
- And so much more....
We look forward to continuing our partnership with these organizations. If you’d like to donate, you can do so directly at: https://www.lachslegacy.org/donate
If you’re looking to make an impact in your local community, you’re encouraged to donate to your local women and babies' shelters.
*SD Child Death Review, 2017-2021
