A new study by researchers with Kaiser Permanente Northern California suggests a simple strategy for reducing the risk of sudden death of infants in their sleep: turning on a fan at night. The study's findings, based on data collected from nearly 500 mother-and-child pairs in California between 1997 and 2000, indicate that the use of a fan in an infant's room may reduce the likelihood of sudden death by 72%. But the data suggest that the protective effect applies mostly to babies in poor sleeping environments — those who are put to bed in overheated rooms or on their stomach. See http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1847726,00.html |
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