MOUNT VERNON — Two sleep-related infant deaths in Knox County this year prompted a public health campaign with a simple goal: make sure every family knows how to keep their baby safe.
Jessica Klepatzki, a registered nurse who oversees maternal and child health programs at Knox Public Health, led a presentation on safe-sleep practices Thursday.
She said the goal is to prevent future deaths without placing blame on families.
“It seems like a relatively low number, but each number is a baby, and each baby had a family, and they are forever changed,” Klepatzki said.
The deaths prompted renewed attention to the risks associated with co-sleeping and the importance of KPH’s safe sleep recommendations.
The effort came together in about 45 days after the death, Klepatzki said.
During her presentation, Klepatzki shared a wealth of important information. However, the core message of the campaign can be simplified by the acronym ABC: Alone, Back, Crib.
“We want baby alone, on their back and in a crib,” Klepatzki said.
Making safe sleep accessible
Knox County’s reported infant death rate was 4.9 per 1,000 live births from 2019 through 2023. This is compared with Ohio’s rate of 7.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Despite the lower reported rate, the two deaths in 2026 highlight the importance of prevention, Klepatzki said.
While KPH offers information and has multiple initiatives concerning safe sleep — including offering free portable cribs to eligible families — many Knox Countians may not be aware of the programs.
Read more about safe sleep practices:
Klepatzki said the first infant’s mother did not know about the available crib program.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that she didn’t even know about us,” she said.
The campaign also marked an effort to strengthen KPH’s connection with other local organizations that work with pregnant women, new parents and infants.
Creating these connections and educating one another about the available services will make it easier for service providers to connect families with assistance.
Mike Whitaker, KPH Community Cessation Initiative Program Coordinator and Car Seat Technician, was present at the event and spoke briefly to the crowd.
Whitaker is part of the KPH Car Seat Safety program, which provides convertible and booster seats to income eligible families.
Multiple outside organizations approached Whitaker after the event and asked for a referral form to the program.
“When they need one of our services, they can reach out,” Whitaker said.
The form asks the mother’s name and due date, which helps the program connect families with appropriate assistance.
Thursday’s event also gave local professionals an opportunity to reconnect and gather new, valuable information for their clients.
Klepatzki said it can be easy for patients and providers to lose track of available resources amid daily responsibilities.
“A lot of times we all know about the different resources that are out there, but in our day-to-day lives and how busy we get with work, it’s easy to forget,” Klepatzki said.
Keeping the effort going
The campaign’s work will continue beyond this initial marketing push and event.
We want out numbers to be zero, and that is always going to be the goal.
Jessica Klepatzki
KPH is developing a Knox County Infant Resource Guide to help families find services in one place. Once the proper information is collected, the department plans to distribute the guide throughout the county.
Cyndie Miller, director of the Women, Infants and Children program, also attended the event.
WIC is a nutrition education program for pregnant, breastfeeding and new parents. The program offers education and support, supplemental foods and immunization screenings.
Klepatzki said Miller’s role puts her in regular contact, usually once every quarter, with families who may benefit from additional services.
“Cyndie is a front line person for pregnant moms, breastfeeding moms, post-partum moms,” Klepatzki said.
Connections like that can help providers identify needs and direct families toward resources, including safe-sleep education.
For Klepatzki, the campaign’s ultimate measure of success is preventing future tragedies.
“We want out numbers to be zero,” Klepatzki said. “And that is always going to be the goal.”
