ACCIDENTAL DEATH OR SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Objective: To describe the reasons why it is difficult to decide wheth er to attribute some infant deaths to accidents or to SIDS. Methodolog y: To extract from infant deaths data in South Australia those where t he cause of death is debatable. Results: The risks associated with roc king cradles, bed sharing, bedclothes, couch sleeping, unsafe cots or beds and the prone position are presented. Conclusions: Uniform worldw ide death scene investigations for all infant deaths should help ident ify unsafe sleeping conditions for infants.