WHAT IS SHAKEN BABY IMPACT SYNDROME?
In the last few years a newly recognized injury to children has been identified and described as Shaken Baby Impact Syndrome. These injuries are serious and life-threatening.
SBIS is the medical term used to describe the results of a child receiving numerous rapid shakes when a caregiver momentarily succumbs to the frustration of responding to a crying baby. The sudden shaking motion causes the baby’s fragile brain to slam against the skull wall often resulting in cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding), contusion (bruising), and edema (swelling) wthin the brain or tears in the brain tissue itself. (The baby’s head may not actually make impact, but it does frequently occur.)
A baby’s neck simply does not have the strength to support its heavy head. Blood vessels connecting the skull to the brain are very fragile. Shaking causes these delicate blood vessels to tear and blood pools inside the skull.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF SBIS?
1 in 4 Babies, DIE
1 in 4 babies are seriously injured, resulting in:
Paralysis
Blindness
Seizures
1 in 4 babies receive minor injuries, resulting in:
Broken Bones
Vision Impairment
Seizures
1 in 4 babies are not reported or diagnosed, resulting in:
Latent Learning Disabilities
Behavior problems
Seizures
HOW TO PREVENT SBIS
WHEN A BABY CRIES….
- Check baby for any signs of illness, fever, etc…
- Check for the baby’s basic needs an d make him comfortable
- Try feeding or burping the baby
- Swaddle the baby and rock him gently
- Offer the baby a pacifier
- Lie the baby on his tummy and gently rub his back
- Rock the Baby
- Walk with the baby
- Sing of talk to the baby with soothing tones
- Call a friend or relative for support
- If you become angry and frustrated put the baby in a safe place…crib or playpen…
- Close the door and go into another room to calm down. Check the baby every few minutes.
- Count to “10.”
- If necessary, COUNT AGAIN!
NEVER leave your baby with someone you don’t trust, and:
NEVER,
NEVER,
NEVER SHAKE A BABY!!!
For more information, resources and to share your story, please visit AboutShakenBaby.com
