State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris)
State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris)
A bill sponsored by State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and State Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Pontiac) was signed into law on Aug. 9 to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The law will require stricter reporting and investigative requirements when an infant dies suddenly. Coroners must conduct an autopsy following an investigation of environmental factors which may have attributed to the infant’s death. The Department of Public Health must also publish current data on SIDS.
“Too often, infant deaths are being ruled as SIDS even when there are unsafe factors present at the scene where the infant passed,” Sen. Rezin said. “By just putting SIDS on the death certificate, potentially valuable information is being left out that could help prevent infant deaths in the future.”
A constituent of Rezin and State Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), Ashley Lamps, brought forward the idea of the legislation. She lost her son in 2013 to SIDS. In addition to bringing forward the legislation, Lamps runs a foundation on SIDS awareness and sleep safety.
“Illinois needs to have as much information as possible at hand to help prevent these instances from happening,” Yednock said. “Families across the Illinois Valley, and throughout the entire state, will have better information going forward to take extra care for their newborns.”
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