The Epsilon Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will host its third sudden infant death syndrome awareness workshop and baby shower from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at the Damascus Missionary Baptist Church, 224 N. Cypress St.
The sorority recently kicked off a community education campaign to help parents, prospective parents and other caregivers to reduce the high incidence of death from sudden infant death syndrome in the black community. National research indicates that black babies are twice as likely to die of SIDS as white babies. Overall, it is the leading cause of death in all infants under 1 year of age. Most SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 2 and 4 months.
Placing babies on their backs to sleep dramatically reduces the incidence of SIDS, according to research on the subject.
The effort is part of the Back to Sleep campaign, sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, American Academy of SIDS and Infant Mortality programs.
The program is designed to bring together parents, grandparents, caregivers and everyone else concerned about the health of infants.
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After the facts are presented, there will be an open discussion and a question-and-answer period.
There will be door prize drawings. Snacks will be served.
Dr. Marian S. Evans-Lee is chapter basileus and Billie Dorn and Patricia Johnson are co-chairwomen of the workshop/shower.