Students show support for Red Nose Day

Wimmera people can help save young lives and fund support programs by donating to the annual Red Nose Day campaign.

While people Australia-wide observed Red Nose Day on Friday last week, the virtual nature of the campaign means people can continue to donate online.

Every dollar raised will help save little lives by funding SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – research, education and advice for new parents, including the Red Nose Safe Sleep Advice Line.

Money also supports Red Nose’s 24-7 counselling and support programs for heartbroken families reeling from the death of their child.

This includes Red Nose’s unique Treasured Babies program and hand and foot castings, which give parents ‘a lifetime of precious moments they will never get to experience’.

Red Nose is aiming to raise $700,000 to keep these programs free and available to every Australian parent.

Red Nose Australia chief executive Keren Ludski said new statistics released by the Federal Government showed a 20 percent increase in sudden infant deaths in Australia.

The data, for 2018, shows 3012 babies and young children died in the year. Of these – • 112 were SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents – up from 93 the previous year. • 718 were neonatal deaths – down from 737. Neonatal deaths are those that occur in the first 28 days of a baby’s life, and includes congenital abnormalities, infections and prematurity. • 66 were early childhood deaths, from causes including drowning, poisoning – down from 85.

• 2116 were stillbirths – on par with 2118.

There is a lag in the release of data to allow for coronial inquests and autopsy reports.

Ms Ludski said Red Nose had worked relentlessly throughout the past three decades to reduce SIDS in Australia by more than 85 percent.

“Every single person who has donated to Red Nose Day in the past can be thanked for that,” she said.

“Red Nose Day also funds our free 24-7 grief and counselling services for the thousands of grief-stricken Australian families who lose a baby or young child every year.”

People can visit rednoseday.org.au to make a donation or buy merchandise.