Chief Gerald Smith Draws Public Attention to Preventing Sudden Death in Children

**New Date: Wednesday, November 17**

Media Availability: Educating the Public on Co-sleeping and Dangers of Prescription and Illicit Drugs Surrounding Children

Who:   Chief Gerald Smith brings attention to preventing child deaths in Richmond in collaboration with VCU Medical Center in response to a series of child deaths related to co-sleeping and ingestion of illegal drugs.

• Richmond Police Chief Gerald M. Smith
• Sergeant, Derrick Longoria, Youth and Family Crimes
• Dr. Patrick McLaughlin, VCU Medical Center, Pediatric Emergency  Medicine

What:  VCU Medical expert, RPD Youth and Family Crimes Unit, and Chief of Police discuss the recent rise in sudden unexplained child deaths in our community.
Co-sleeping is defined and demystified with safety recommendations offered as well as tips and resources for parents to maintain infant and child safety in our community.

When: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Comments followed by Q &A

Where: Park365  (outdoors on the playground)

3600 Saunders Avenue

Richmond, VA  23227

Why:   Raise public awareness around the issue of sudden death in children and preventable methods available to parents including an understanding of co-sleeping, and the dangers of prescription and illegal drug use in families.

Richmond Stats:

• In 2020 there were five total child deaths in the City of Richmond.
• To date in 2021 Richmond has seen 12 child deaths:
  4 co-sleeping/unsafe sleeping conditions
  3 pending investigation
  2 overdose/toxicity
  2 homicide
  1 death/emergency medical condition mid-flight

National Stats:

• Between 1999 and 2016, the use of prescription and illicit opioids caused the deaths of approximately 9,000 American children. (Analysis CDC Mortality data, JAMA Network Open)
• 3,500 sleep-related deaths among U.S. babies each year, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and deaths from unknown causes (CDC.gov)
•  According to the latest data from CDC, 28 states, including Virginia had more than a 30 percent increase in overdose deaths in 2020 compared to 2019, including 10 that increased by more than 40 percent. (CDC Vital Statistics Rapid Release)

City-wide Resources:

The City of Richmond Division of Children, Family and Adults can provide a full range of services to families involved with Child Protective Services including referrals for:

• Parenting education
• Substance abuse treatment
• Mental health treatment and counseling
• Medical assistance
• Financial assistance and budgeting
• Housing assistance
• Mentoring programs

For more information about Child Protective Services please call (804) 646-0438. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs medical attention, call 9-11.