Perhaps nothing makes good health a priority the way bringing home a newborn baby does. Thoughts of medical care and insurance often induce finance-related headaches but one major health insurer has recently begun recommending a very low-cost means of providing a do-it-yourself form of baby’s health insurance. Kaiser Permanente’s research division says simply turning on a fan in the room where a baby sleeps is an ideal way to reduce his or her risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
One theory as to why this tragic event occurs is that newborns simply don’t have the muscular strength or control to move their heads during sleep. This immobility means they inhale the carbon-dioxide-laden air they’ve just expelled, in effect poisoning themselves during sleep. By turning on a fan to improve circulation of fresh, healthy air, the baby breathes easier and stays healthier.
While it’s vitally important to maintain health insurance Kaiser Permanente’s research indicates the rate of SIDS can be reduced by as much as 72% when the baby’s room is well ventilated, especially while he or she is sleeping.