25 June 2018
  • Home
  • News
  • DFES helping Red Nose to Save Babies’ Lives

DFES helping Red Nose to Save Babies’ Lives

In 30 years almost 10,000 Australian children’s lives have been saved, but still nine children die every day – why you should support Red Nose Day on 29 June 2018.

DFES Red Nose 2018 Media Release

Red Nose Day is celebrating a significant milestone: Its 30 year anniversary of saving Australian babies’ and children’s lives. Ongoing public support for Red Nose Day across these decades has enabled Red Nose to make a powerful impact in reducing sudden and unexpected death in infancy, but they rely on continued support to progress this life-saving work - Red Nose are urging Australians to get behind Red Nose Day on 29 June 2018, with A Little Give, For a Little Life.

Every day in Australia, nine children under the age of four die suddenly and unexpectedly, with causes including stillbirth, SIDS and fatal sleep accidents. Red Nose’s goal is to reduce this number to zero.

Since its inception 30 years ago, Red Nose’s work in critical research and education programs have proven effective by the fact there has been an 85% decrease in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) in Australia, saving an estimated 9,967 lives. However, there is so much more that needs to be done to reduce these deaths to zero, and Red Nose relies heavily on public support of Red Nose Day to continue their work.

This year, Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is helping raise awareness for Red Nose Day by affixing red noses to all of their metropolitan-based fire appliances, support vehicles and the RAC Rescue helicopters. Firefighters are often first responders to incidents involving the fatality of a child. This is a traumatic and life-altering experience for the families and those attending them on the scene. DFES are supporting Red Nose to reduce nine deaths a day to zero and raising awareness for the critical Grief and Loss support services Red Nose provide to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM said DFES is getting behind Red Nose in their efforts to reduce sudden and unexpected deaths in children.

“Emergency services personnel often attend traumatic incidents involving children and witness first-hand the devastation caused – it’s hard to walk away from the scene without this having a profound effect on you,” Commissioner Klemm said.

“DFES is proud to support Red Nose Day to try and help reduce the number of children who die suddenly and unexpectedly to zero. All of our metropolitan-based career firefighting appliances and RAC Rescue helicopters will be sporting red noses to help raise awareness, and firefighters will be on hand to help raise money on Red Nose Day.”

DFES firefighters will be at Perth’s Murray Street Mall fundraising stall between 12.30pm-1.30pm on Friday 29 June this Red Nose Day.

How to get involved

Red Nose are inviting all Australians to join DFES and get involved in Red Nose Day in a number of different ways. People can purchase a red nose or other Red Nose Day product, make a donation, host a children’s fundraising disco, set up an online fundraising page or visit the fundraising stall in Murray Street Mall on Friday 29 June.

Funds raised through Red Nose Day fundraising activities go to Red Nose’s advocacy and research programs into the causes of all sudden, unexplained and preventable childhood deaths, educating the community on safe sleeping practices, and supporting families who have been devastated by the sudden and unexpected death of a child.

Red Nose Day products available this year include the iconic red noses, car noses, truck noses, adorable plush toy characters as well as pens and wristbands. All these products are available to purchase from Big W, Spotlight, CUA and other leading retailers as well as online at rednoseday.com.au.

Key details for Red Nose Day:

What? Red Nose Day 2018

When? Friday 29 June 2018, with campaign activity running throughout June

Where? Australia wide

How?

Why? To raise money for Red Nose so it can continue to provide safe sleeping education and fund vital research to save the lives of babies and children and provide vital Grief and Loss services to support families who suffer the sudden and unexpected loss of a child.

By supporting Red Nose Day, you will help fund:

  • Research into the causes of stillbirth and SUDI
  • Life-saving education with a track record of reducing the risk of SUDI
  • Bereavement support for the up to 60 people who are impacted by the death of just one child

Show your support this June by purchasing a Red Nose Day product, donating to Red Nose or starting your own fundraising campaign. A Little Give, For a Little Life is all it takes. Go to www.rednoseday.com.au for further information on how you can get involved.

#rednosedayoz
#ninetozero
#alittlegiveforalittlelife
www.facebook.com/RedNoseAus/
www.instagram.com/rednosedayaustralia
www.twitter.com/RedNoseDay_Aus

About Red Nose

In October 2016, SIDS and Kids launched its new name, Red Nose, and new remit – to reduce the incidence of sudden and unexpected death in babies and children in Australia to zero.

Red Nose provides vital safe sleeping education to expectant mothers, their families and healthcare professionals all around Australia. They also conduct world-class research into sudden and unexpected death in infancy and provide crucial bereavement support to those affected by the death of a baby or child, receiving more than 10,000 calls for support and education every year.

Since Red Nose’s inception, over $18 million has been devoted into researching stillbirth, neonatal death, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other causes that contribute to the 3,200 unexpected infant deaths that devastate Australian families each year.

Tags

Share