Millions and millions of dollars have gone into researching SIDS over the last couple of decades with no result except supposed identification of some risk factors, while some research has been ignored or fobbed off without thorough testing.
The Toxic Gas Theory is one example of this.
Dr Sprott, a N.Z. Forensic Scientist, has been working tirelessly over the past 15 years to get the message out there in New Zealand about toxic gases coming from mattresses. His recommendation is to cover the cot mattress with a thick polythene plastic, which does not contain arsenic, phosphorus or antimony. This barrier stops gases if generated, from escaping from the mattress. There have been over 100,000 covers sold and no deaths when the cover is fitted properly and the correct bedding and bed clothes have been used.
Dr Sprott’s recommendations are to cover whatever surface the baby is sleeping on. This does include the parent’s bed. Twenty-one of the 39 deaths were on a mattress on the floor or bed, while 19 of the babies died while sharing the bed with someone.
Dr Sprott further advises that all bedding and bed clothes need to be free from arsenic, phosphorus and antimony, otherwise the danger is brought to the surface of the bed where the gases can also be generated.
Usually the compounds arsenic, phosphorus and antimony are added to the mattress when treating with fire retardants, however, sometimes these compounds are naturally in the mattress stuffing materials.
The theory has three components; the compounds, fungi which develops in the mattress due to bacteria entering the mattress from bodily fluids and the last component is excessive heat. The heat source can be from a fever, hot water bottle, electric blankets, heater in bedroom etc. Normal bodily heat is not sufficient to start the gas being generated.
All heat sources cannot be eliminated altogether as babies often have a fever, sometimes without the parents knowing if it happens in the night when all are asleep. The compounds in the mattresses may not be able to be stopped either, because, even if Governments outlaw the three compounds currently implicated in the toxic gas theory, other compounds could be added, and the same problem may arise. The bacteria can be stopped from entering the mattress if the mattress is covered when the mattress is new.
For the full story of the Toxic Gas Theory go to 'links page' or call to borrow Dr Sprott’s book The Cot Death Cover-up.
Dr Sprott states that all the documents and research referred to by the SIDS and KIDS Organisation on their website actually support the toxic gas theory. Dr Sprott covers this thoroughly on his website - go to 'links page'.
If parents want to follow Dr Sprott's advice and wrap their baby's mattress and/or sleeping surfaces, please visit Dr Sprott's website for full instructions.
Whether you cover the sleeping surface and use the correct bedding and bed clothes according to Dr Sprott's recommendations is not a guarantee that your baby will not succumb to SIDS. There may be other causes of this syndrome as research is inconclusive. Get Rid of SIDS Project™ personnel accept no responsibility for the action people take in this regard.
Get Rid of SIDS Project™ABN 63 260 843 015