Accidental death or sudden infant death syndrome?
OBJECTIVE
To describe the reasons why it is difficult to decide whether to attribute some infant deaths to accidents or to SIDS.


METHODS
To extract from infant deaths data in South Australia those where the cause of death is debatable.


RESULTS
The risks associated with rocking cradles, bed sharing, bedclothes, couch sleeping, unsafe cots or beds and the prone position are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Uniform worldwide death scene investigations for all infant deaths should help identify unsafe sleeping conditions for infants.
Beal
S M
SM
Department of Paediatrics, Adelaide Children's Hospital, Australia.
Byard
R W
RW
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000401:mortality*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001513:Beds; D002423:Cause of Death; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D016684:Prone Position; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*