BRATTLEBORO — Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAV) presented a plaque to nurses in the Birthing Center at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) during an April 18 luncheon, recognizing their efforts in educating new parents about infant crying and the dangers of shaking.
The plaque was presented by Doug Racine, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, to Debbie Partrick, nurse manager of the Birthing Center, during a ceremony coinciding with National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The BMH nurses have been participating in a statewide prevention program since 2009, and this year they had a 97 percent returned pledge form rate.
“We believe the work that these nurses have committed to has been a key factor to why the numbers of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma that we are aware of has dropped significantly,” said Kay Shangraw, a registered nurse who is the manager for the PCAV Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention program.
The education BMH nurses provide new parents includes talking with them about infant crying, asking them to watch a short eight minute video about Shaken Baby Syndrome, and then having them sign a pledge form that says they will keep their baby safe and share this information with care providers.
Vermont had seen a huge increase in cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome between 2007 and 2010. In that time period, 23 cases were in the news or brought to the attention of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. Six infants died during that time period, as well as a young man who had been a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Abusive Head Trauma as an infant.
“We thank Kay Shangraw and the rest of the Prevent Child Abuse Vermont staff for their guidance and are pleased to know our efforts made a difference in lives of newborns and their parents,” said Partrick.
“I would also like to thank my staff who made the commitment to educate our new parents, the 97 percent return rate is recognition of their dedication.”