Community Education
Safe Home, Safe Baby
Kern Medical has launched a Safe Sleeping Program to decrease the number
of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs) in Kern County. The program
was created in partnership with the County of Kern and Public Health,
after the Child Death Review panel presented alarming results in their
yearly report. Last year alone, 17 babies lost their lives due to SUIDs,
most due to unsafe sleeping conditions. Since nearly all of these deaths
could have been prevented with a safe sleeping environment, Kern Medical
is determined to bring awareness to SUIDs and provide the resources needed
for families.
As the local safety net hospital, Kern Medical has the unique opportunity to care for the most vulnerable in our community. Community-wide education is at the center of the safe sleeping program. The Small Wonders Birth Center and the Kern Medical Education Classes provide lifesaving instruction on proper safe sleeping practices. In addition, a crib is provided for a families that do not have the means to purchase one on their own.
Kern Medical recently received $30,000 from First 5 Kern to expand the program throughout all of Kern County. This generous gift will ensure that more than 500 newborns in our community have a safe sleeping environment. The funding will also be used to further expand the awareness of the program to our community partners located throughout Kern County.
Stay in the Game
Stay in the Game is a comprehensive program tailored to ensure the safety
and wellness of all our local student athletes. The program has three
parts: student athlete physicals, physicians on the sidelines and education
for coaches and parents. By having a physical prior to participating in
sports, physicians’ can rule out medical conditions that can be
dangerous when undetected. Since the program launched, the Kern Medical
team has identified conditions in several students that may have been
dangerous, such as heart murmurs, and were able to fast track any care
necessary.
Chronic Disease Management
Chronic Disease Management educational classes are aimed at helping provide
tools and resources to better manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes,
congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd).
Stop the Bleed
Stop the Bleed provides education so the community can be trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before health care professionals arrive.