Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam

What should caregivers avoid to reduce the risk of SIDS?

1. Smokey environments

2. Exposing infants to sick individuals

3. Both A and B

4. Keeping infants in a separate room while they sleep

The correct answer is: Both A and B

To effectively reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), caregivers should actively avoid exposing infants to smokey environments and sick individuals. Smoking, particularly in close proximity to infants, has been consistently linked to a higher incidence of SIDS. The harmful substances present in cigarette smoke can affect an infant's respiratory health and potentially lead to unsafe sleeping conditions. Similarly, exposing infants to individuals who are ill may present a risk through various infectious diseases, which can compromise an infant's delicate immune system. Keeping an infant's environment as healthy and safe as possible plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. Choosing to keep infants in a separate room while they sleep, however, does not directly correlate with a reduction in the risk of SIDS. In fact, current recommendations often suggest that infants sleep in the same room as their caregivers, as this can enhance safety monitoring and reduce the likelihood of SIDS by ensuring that the infant is in a closer, more supervised environment. Therefore, avoiding both smokey environments and exposure to sick individuals is essential for caregivers aiming to minimize the risk of SIDS.