Red Nose Day - Friday 27th June 2008

Red Nose Day, held annually on the last Friday in June, is the major fundraiser for SIDS and Kids. Funds raised through Red Nose Day activities assist us in providing our vital services and programs.

About SIDS and Kids
SIDS and Kids is an international leader in the field of health promotion, dedicated to the elimination of sudden and unexpected infant death. Best known for SIDS-related research and education programs, in 2002 SIDS and Kids changed their name to reflect the expansion of services, and now provide much-needed counselling and support to all Australian families who have suffered the sudden death of an infant or young child, regardless of the cause. This service is provided free of charge, and available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Who benefits from our services?
Since 1990, the SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping program has been instrumental in reducing the SIDS infant mortality rate by 90%, equaling more that 4,500 Australian babies’ lives saved. However each month approximately 200 Australian children die suddenly and unexpectedly from causes such as stillbirth, neonatal death, SIDS, a fast onset illness, drowning, poisoning, fire or motor vehicle accident. SIDS and Kids have a wide range of well-established programs and over 28 years experience in supporting families at this time. Their professional counsellors and trained volunteer peer supporters work together to help families through the tragic death of their child. More than 60 people are affected by the death of a child. SIDS and Kids programs are offered free of charge to all family members and friends who need support. For as long as they need them, SIDS and Kids are there!

Why a Red Nose?
In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by SIDS and Kids organisations around Australia. Since then, people, cars, and buildings around the nation have joined in the fun. The red nose always brings a smile to people's faces. By wearing a red nose you can be silly for a great cause.

Where do Red Nose Day funds go?
Proceeds from Red Nose Day assist us in providing the following vital services and programs:
• 24 hour, 365 days a year crisis outreach and ongoing bereavement support for families and the community following the sudden and unexpected death of an infant or young child from 20 weeks gestation to 6 years.
• Our SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Program, an evidence-based health promotion campaign which offers practical advice to parents and health professionals about how to best reducce the risks of SIDS and sleep accidents.
• Research into the causes and prevention of sudden and unexpected death in the perinatal period and infancy.

What is SIDS and perinatal death?
SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age, with onset of the lethal episode apparently occuring during sleep, that remains unexplained after a thorough investiagtion including performance of a complete autopsy, and review of the circumstances and death and the clinical history. (Krous at al 2004)
In 1988, when Red Nose Day forst started, 479 Australian babies dies from SIDS. With Red Nose Day income, SIDS and Kids organisations funded research and produced the SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping health promotion campaign, leading to a drop to 73 SIDS deaths in 2003.
A perinatal death is either a stillbirth from 20 weeks gestation or a neonatal death in the forst 28 days of life, (i.e. just before birth or jjust after). In 2003, 2020 babies died in the perinatal period in Australia.

SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping
Our current health promotion program, SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping, is evidence based and provides families, infant carers and health professionals with information about how to reduce the risk of SIDS and create a safe sleeping environment for babies. More information on this is available at www.sidsandkids.org. The SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping program recommends:
• Put baby on the back to sleep, from birth.
• Sleep baby with face uncovered.
• Cigarette smoke is bad for baby.
• Safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding, safe sleeping place, night and day.

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The first Australian Red Nose Day was also successful with around a million face noses sold, raising about $1.3 million and substantially increasing awareness of the cause. Organisers were thrilled with the successful results and decided to make Red Nose Day a national event.

In 1989 two million face noses were sold at $1.50 each and a new button badge costing $2 was included with a picture of a chicken saying 'I'm too chicken to wear a red nose'. This price included a fine of 50 cents for not wearing a red nose!

The 'chicken' badge has changed each year to feature an animal with a catchy slogan. These badges have become a Red Nose Day collector's item, and are in great demand every year. Characters and slogans used to date include: