4 child deaths spur recommendations to government departments

Newfoundland and Labrador's child death review committee has made recommendations to two different government agencies after reviewing four recent child deaths in the province.

Although the specifics of each case are not known, the Department of Justice and Public Safety released the recommendations stemming from the four deaths in a media release Friday.

Two infants died as a result of sudden infant death syndrome in recent months. 

In response to one of the deaths, the committee suggested that the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services review the "processes for identifying SIDS risk factors and screen families who are considered to be at a higher risk, and provide educational and supportive services aimed towards prevention."

The committee also recommended that CYFS and the Innu collaborate on a campaign to increase awareness of SIDS risk factors and safe sleeping arrangements. 

It was recommended that once a child is 16 years old and in the care of CYFS, an assessment be made on the child's ability to care for themselves, that a safety and supervision plan be created for children at risk and that a new guardian be made aware of a child's medical needs.

Those suggestions followed an asthma-related death.

A program dedicated to educating students to the dangers of exposure to carbon monoxide was recommended following the death of a child due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Under the Fatalities Investigations Act, the department has 60 days after receiving the report to publicize its recommendations in relation to policies, legislation, co-ordinating services and improving services affecting children and pregnant women. 

This is the second report released by the child death review committee since its inception in March 2014.

The child and youth advocate also has a copy of the report, the department said.