Texas: You Can't Have Too Much Awareness...

The Killeen Daily Herald reports that the Bell County Commissioners Court voted Monday to designate September as Shaken Baby Syndrome and Child Safety Awareness Month in Bell County.

A statistic cited by County Judge Jon Burrows suggests there is a need for education.

The court also agreed to declare September as Shaken Baby Syndrome and Child Safety Awareness Month. About one in three Texans polled doesn't know it is dangerous to shake babies, Burrows said.

Although the Texas legislature did pass hospital prevention legislation (SB 316) in 2005, it only requires hospitals to provide a brochure. Unfortunately, effective education requires more, but fortunately some hospitals in Texas are going beyond the minimum requirements of the law.

Resources:

2009 SBS Awareness Week Resolution, US Senate - Link
2009 SBS Awareness Week Resolution, Texas Senate, SR 429 - Link
Hospital education requirement, Texas - Link to Senator Lucio's bill memo
Story of one family's effort in Texas to increase awareness link