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| Bristol study into 'shaken baby' syndrome advice | Bristol study into 'shaken baby' syndrome advice |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Brain trauma, caused when a baby is hit or shaken, is the most common severe injury in babies | Brain trauma, caused when a baby is hit or shaken, is the most common severe injury in babies |
| New research is aiming to reduce the number of babies dying or being left with disabilities after being shaken. | New research is aiming to reduce the number of babies dying or being left with disabilities after being shaken. |
| The University of the West of England is investigating whether giving prospective and new parents safety tips cuts shaken baby syndrome. | The University of the West of England is investigating whether giving prospective and new parents safety tips cuts shaken baby syndrome. |
| It is assessing the impact of the NHS programme ICON, introduced in 2018 to GP and maternity care. | It is assessing the impact of the NHS programme ICON, introduced in 2018 to GP and maternity care. |
| Dr Mark Lyttle believes lockdown increased the likelihood of babies suffering abusive head trauma (AHT). | Dr Mark Lyttle believes lockdown increased the likelihood of babies suffering abusive head trauma (AHT). |
| The new study follows the death of Remari Collins in August 2020 - 11 days after his father Marcus Carter, 43, shook him when he would not settle at their home in Easton, Bristol. | The new study follows the death of Remari Collins in August 2020 - 11 days after his father Marcus Carter, 43, shook him when he would not settle at their home in Easton, Bristol. |
| Carter was jailed for manslaughter but cleared of murder because the act was a "momentary loss of control". | Carter was jailed for manslaughter but cleared of murder because the act was a "momentary loss of control". |
| Marcus Carter called 999 and tried to perform CPR after shaking his son | Marcus Carter called 999 and tried to perform CPR after shaking his son |
| Dr Lyttle, who is leading the research, said: "We have had reports from a number of centres in the UK that they have seen more babies with brain injuries than ever before. | Dr Lyttle, who is leading the research, said: "We have had reports from a number of centres in the UK that they have seen more babies with brain injuries than ever before. |
| "We also know that whenever society is under stress, like we are at the minute, that that type of thing increases - we saw it in 2009 with the global financial crisis. | "We also know that whenever society is under stress, like we are at the minute, that that type of thing increases - we saw it in 2009 with the global financial crisis. |
| "We are getting reports of it now which is why we are really pushing this out and hope it is going to help bring that back down." | "We are getting reports of it now which is why we are really pushing this out and hope it is going to help bring that back down." |
| Brain trauma, caused when a baby is hit or shaken, is the most common severe injury in babies, according to NHS figures. | Brain trauma, caused when a baby is hit or shaken, is the most common severe injury in babies, according to NHS figures. |
| Dr Mark Lyttle is leading the research | |
| This form of abuse affects around 35 in 100,000 babies and is almost completely preventable. | This form of abuse affects around 35 in 100,000 babies and is almost completely preventable. |
| It can lead to lifelong learning, visual and hearing disabilities, and in about 20% of cases, the baby dies. | It can lead to lifelong learning, visual and hearing disabilities, and in about 20% of cases, the baby dies. |
| However, research suggests that these brain injuries could be avoided with clear education and support messages for families about normal crying, especially if given on several occasions. | However, research suggests that these brain injuries could be avoided with clear education and support messages for families about normal crying, especially if given on several occasions. |
| AHT is most common under the age of one, when babies cry the most. | AHT is most common under the age of one, when babies cry the most. |
| While it is not always possible to reduce how much a baby cries, ICON aims to cut case numbers by offering coping strategies for parents of under one-year olds. | While it is not always possible to reduce how much a baby cries, ICON aims to cut case numbers by offering coping strategies for parents of under one-year olds. |
| Health visitor for Sirona, Jade Edmundson, talks to parents about how to cope in stressful moments | |
| It is now used in 44 of 54 regions across England. | It is now used in 44 of 54 regions across England. |
| The new £300,000 university study will evaluate the effectiveness of the programme and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme. | The new £300,000 university study will evaluate the effectiveness of the programme and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme. |
| It will investigate whether infant head trauma has occurred less frequently since the ICON programme was rolled out, after gathering the views of managers, health care providers, parents and carers. | It will investigate whether infant head trauma has occurred less frequently since the ICON programme was rolled out, after gathering the views of managers, health care providers, parents and carers. |
| Health visitor for Sirona, Jade Edmundson, passes on ICON information at regular post-natal sessions in Bradley Stoke, Bristol. | Health visitor for Sirona, Jade Edmundson, passes on ICON information at regular post-natal sessions in Bradley Stoke, Bristol. |
| 'Crying is normal' | |
| She said: "So we talk about how infant crying is normal, so that it's ok to feel stress in those moments. | She said: "So we talk about how infant crying is normal, so that it's ok to feel stress in those moments. |
| "We talk about comforting methods that might help, so whether they have got a safety plan in place so, is there somebody else in the house that might be able to help them in those moments. | "We talk about comforting methods that might help, so whether they have got a safety plan in place so, is there somebody else in the house that might be able to help them in those moments. |
| "We also talk about skin to skin or maybe taking baby for a walk - those sort of things that are going to maybe calm baby down but also calm parents down as well. | "We also talk about skin to skin or maybe taking baby for a walk - those sort of things that are going to maybe calm baby down but also calm parents down as well. |
| "We also talk about it being okay to walk away from baby, as long as they are somewhere safe." | "We also talk about it being okay to walk away from baby, as long as they are somewhere safe." |
| ICON is made up of four simple messages given to families by healthcare professionals on up to five occasions in the baby's early life. | ICON is made up of four simple messages given to families by healthcare professionals on up to five occasions in the baby's early life. |
| I - Infant crying is normal | I - Infant crying is normal |
| C - Comforting methods can help | C - Comforting methods can help |
| O - It is okay to walk away | O - It is okay to walk away |
| N - Never, ever shake a baby. | N - Never, ever shake a baby. |
| Dr Lyttle is working in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust on the study. | Dr Lyttle is working in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust on the study. |
| It aims to assess the effectiveness of the programme in reducing the incidence of AHT and identify barriers and facilitators to its implementation and reach. | It aims to assess the effectiveness of the programme in reducing the incidence of AHT and identify barriers and facilitators to its implementation and reach. |
| Dr Lyttle said: "Evaluating the potential impact of the ICON programme at this stage of its growth is vital. | Dr Lyttle said: "Evaluating the potential impact of the ICON programme at this stage of its growth is vital. |
| "Understanding whether this is beneficial, and which elements are most useful, will help policy makers make any recommendations on its use or improvements." | "Understanding whether this is beneficial, and which elements are most useful, will help policy makers make any recommendations on its use or improvements." |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Family & Education | Family & Education |
| University of Bristol | University of Bristol |
| University of the West of England | University of the West of England |
| NHS | NHS |
| Parenting | Parenting |
| Bristol | Bristol |
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