Heritage Centers E-Learning:
Who's Watching the Baby? Preventing
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Credits as 1/2 hour course
(GO 120)
Upon completion of this session,
submit the Evaluation to Training Deptartment to receive credit.
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What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
·
Symptoms
SBS is the resulting
physical and mental damage in a baby who has been violently shaken. This shaking causes the baby's head to whip
back and forth on its weak neck resulting in the brain ricocheting against the inside of the skull and pulling apart causing blood vessels
to tear away and blood to pool in the skull.
It is the leading cause of severe head injuries in infants and causes
permanent disability or death.
Most victims of Shaken Baby
Syndrome are under the age of 6 months.
However, it can occur in children up to age three and in rare cases,
children up to age 5.
Click here for symptoms of SBS.
Symptoms may not show up immediately
and developmental disabilities created by shaking the baby may not show up
until after age 6. These disabilities
may never be associated with an incident of shaking that took place during
infancy, especially if there was no physical injury noted at the time.
In mild cases with no
immediate symptoms, the baby may not get medical care or they may be
misdiagnosed with illness or colic.
Unfortunately, these babies are at risk of being shaken again, worsening
any injury or brain damage.
Shaken Baby Syndrome can
lead to:
Broken ribs
Eye damage, possible blindness
Hearing impairment
Speech impairment
Developmental delays
Cerebral palsy
Behavior disorders
Seizures
Spinal cord damage, possible paralysis
Brain damage
Death
Some of our consumers and students
may very well be here because they were shaken as babies. 25% of victims die. Of the ones that survive,
almost all have severe injuries, brain damage, or developmental disabilities,
and may require lifelong medical care.
The babys mother- 13%
The babys father/stepfather- 37%
Mothers boyfriend- 21%
Babysitter/caregiver- 21%
80% of perpetrators are male
60% of victims are male
The
number one reason that babies are shaken is for inconsolable crying. Other primary reasons include toilet training
difficulties and feeding problems. Some
babies have been shaken because they were not breathing. Performing infant CPR and calling 911 are the
proper steps to take for an infant who is not breathing. Shaking them will not help revive their
breathing
The average baby cries
between 2-3 hours per day, some even more.
This is normal. Shaking a baby
will not calm it down. All caregivers need
to realize this and remember to never shake a baby.
Click here to see
suggestions for soothing a crying baby.
If you believe a baby has
been shaken, seek immediate medical attention for the baby. Call 911 and tell the medical personnel that
the baby was shaken so that precious time will not be wasted on their looking
for other conditions. Prompt medical
attention can reduce injuries, brain damage and may even save the baby's life.
Please print and complete the Review Exercise.
Shaken Baby Syndrome is the
condition that results from an infant being shaken rough enough for his/her
neck to whip back and forth resulting in the brain being damaged against the
skull. Symptoms can be mild, moderate,
or so severe that death results. Often
times the condition is overlooked until years later when a developmental
disability is diagnosed. The primary
reason that babies get shaken is inconsolable crying. The primary perpetrator of the shaking is the
father/stepfather (37%), followed by a caregiver or mother's boyfriend (21%)
and finally the mother (13%).
Alternative actions must be taken to deal with the crying besides
shaking the baby. Some suggestions
include: addressing all basic needs (food, dirty diaper, teething etc) then
remaining calm and soothing the baby through methods mentioned above. When these suggestions do not help, seek
assistance from others or put the baby safely in another room and work to calm
down. Medical attention should be sought
as soon as you know or suspect the baby has been shaken. Prompt medical attention may reduce the
injuries and brain damage, saving the baby's life.
To complete this course you must submit a completed Evaluation.
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
National Institute of Neurological Disorders
Upstate New York Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Program
The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida
Last Revised