MEDIA RELEASE FOR PUBLICATION
28 January 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
SPROTT CONGRATULATES NELSON MATTRESS-WRAPPING CAMPAIGNERS FOLLOWING CLOSURE OF NELSON SIDS GROUP; MORE CLOSURES
PREDICTED
Dr Jim Sprott is congratulating mattress-wrapping campaigners in the Nelson region for their efforts in cot death
prevention, following the announcement that a cot death support group in Nelson has closed.
The SIDS Nelson support group, which has operated in the Nelson region for many years, announced its closure during the
weekend, citing the total absence of cot deaths in the area.
Over the past five years there have been no cot deaths in the group’s area of operation, whereas previously 7-9 deaths
occurred each year in that area.
“The total absence of cot deaths in the Nelson region over the last five years comes as no surprise whatsoever,” said Dr
Sprott today. “Mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention has been very actively promoted in the Nelson region, and
mattress-wrapping products have been on the retail market for five years.”
Dr Sprott singled out for special praise Nelson Public Health & Child Health Nurse, Helen Bracefield. “Ms Bracefield has campaigned very actively for mattress-wrapping in recent
years,” said Dr Sprott. “She has made information available to parents personally and through the Golden Bay Community
Centre.”
“In addition, midwives in the area have obtained from myself and distributed copies of a booklet which tells parents
about the success of mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention and how to wrap mattresses. Now we see in Nelson the
results of these efforts by babycare professionals. These advisers are all to be commended.”
Dr Sprott said that well over 100,000 New Zealand babies have now slept on wrapped mattresses. There has been no
reported cot death – anywhere - on any mattress wrapped in accordance with his specifications for cot death prevention.
Dr Sprott predicts that other closures of cot death support groups will follow the disbanding of the SIDS Nelson group.
“The work of cot death support groups in New Zealand will soon be over,” he said. “Furthermore, I can confidently
predict where closures of support groups will occur. The areas in New Zealand where mattress-wrapping is very widely
practised are well documented.”
* * * * * * *
Contact: T J Sprott Phone/fax: 09-5231150 sprott@iconz.co.nz