CS/CS/CS/HB 83 - Infant Death Summary

• Requires birth centers to include instruction on safe sleep practices and causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) in education and postpartum care for clients.

• Requires hospitals providing birthing services to incorporate information on safe sleep practices and possible causes of SUID into postpartum instruction for newborn care.

• Establishes that first responders (emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement) must receive training on SUID as part of their basic certification programs, using curriculum from the Centers for Disease Control SUID Initiative.

• Requires medical examiners to perform autopsies on infants under 1 year who die suddenly and unexpectedly within 24 hours of death, and mandates the Medical Examiners Commission develop and implement a standardized protocol for investigating SUID cases.

• Directs the Department of Health to collaborate with agencies on SUID training programs, maintain a database of SUID statistics, and coordinate activities with the Florida SIDS Alliance.