Youth are often an underutilized resource in the SIDS risk reduction and infant safe sleep efforts. One project which focuses on young women in community service promoting lifesaving safe sleep messages for babies is the Girl Scout Safe Sleep Saves Babies Lives Program.

The Program Support Center at First Candle partnered with Merry McKenna, the Consortium Coordinator for Perinatal Region 1 in Virginia and Virginia Perinatal Council State Chair and the Girl Scout Skyline Regional office in Virginia to develop a Lifesaver patch: Safe Sleep for Babies. Girl Scouts can be advocates and role models for safe sleep practices if they are baby sitters, care for younger siblings and in the future become mothers themselves.

The program involves a curriculum and materials for 7-14 year-olds. The curriculum includes a PowerPoint module with a variety of activities and worksheets, as well as a guide for Troop leaders. Once the girls successfully complete this curriculum, they can earn the Safe Sleep Saves Babies’ Lives Patch.

The program is currently being implemented several areas across the country.  If you are looking to implement an innovative program in your area please contact Barb Himes at barb@firstcandle.org or 443-640-1049, ext 204.

Download a PDF of the Safe Sleep Saves Babies’ Lives Patch Program.

Last Updated: Apr 5, 2013