At least one baby is shaken every week in Wisconsin. According to the national Shaken Baby Alliance, 25 percent of shaken babies die. Shaken baby syndrome is a serious neurological injury or damage to a child's brain. It is usually accompanied by bleeding behind the eyes and sometimes by other injuries. The damage to the brain is the result of a child's head being whipped back and forth by a violent shaking, and sometimes by the head also being forcefully struck against something. Shaken baby syndrome can occur from as little as five seconds of shaking. The majority of the survivors have moderate to severe, long-term disabilities.
Wisconsin law mandates that child care providers receive training in identification, prevention and the grave effects of shaking babies. In Wisconsin, the Prevent Violence Against Children Act, also known as the Shaken Baby Syndrome Act, was signed into law in March 2006. Families with children who have been seriously injured through shaking brought SBS to the attention of the state legislature by making them aware that shaking babies has serious and often fatal results for infants and children; and with training and community support for caretakers, SBS is completely preventable. The message seems so clear and simple: Never, ever shake a baby. But we continue to hear stories of people who have lost control.
The law requires training for all child care providers who care for children 4 years of age and younger, and teaching staff in school board-contracted centers who are licensed to care for children 4 years of age and younger. The law covers employees, substitutes, volunteers, assistants and everyone else who works directly with children 5 years of age and younger. Although the majority of children who are shaken are infants, training is mandatory for child care providers who work with children up to 5 years of age because there are cases of children up to 48 months who have been shaken, and children with disabilities are especially vulnerable at any age.
Child care providers are a critical resource in caring for children. Child Care Resource and Referral supports child care programs and families in central Wisconsin by providing SBS Prevention training. Up to half of deaths related to child abuse are reportedly due to shaken baby syndrome. SBS is tragic, but it is also preventable. If you or someone you know needs additional information about how to prevent shaken baby syndrome, please call Child Care Resource & Referral at 715-423-4114 or go to the website at www.ccrrcw.org.