T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 1005
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150

9 April 2003


MEDIA RELEASE

SPROTT CONGRATULATES SIDS NEW ZEALAND FOR PROMOTING MATTRESS-
WRAPPING TO PARENTS

Dr Jim Sprott is congratulating cot death prevention organisation
SIDS New Zealand for adopting policies which actively promote
mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention.

The first cot death prevention organisation to break away from
promoting solely Ministry of Health advice, SIDS New Zealand is now -
like Dr Sprott - informing parents about mattress-wrapping for cot
death prevention.

Dr Sprott singled out for special praise the bassinet loan scheme
under which SIDS New Zealand provides bassinets and mattresses to
needy parents. Mattresses lent out by SIDS New Zealand are enclosed
in mattress covers which meet Dr Sprott's specifications for cot
death prevention, and in addition parents are provided with Dr
Sprott's full bedding instructions.

Research published by the Scottish Cot Death Trust in the British
Medical Journal in November last year proved that the risk of cot
death rises markedly as mattresses are re-used from one baby to the
next(1) - a situation which frequently occurs in poorer families.

"SIDS New Zealand are to be applauded for their progressive stance in
promoting mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention," said Dr
Sprott. "Bearing in mind that cot death is more prevalent among low
income families (especially Maori families), SIDS New Zealand's
policy of issuing wrapped mattresses to needy families is a great
step forward for cot death prevention in New Zealand.

"Along with the eight-year Cot Life 2000 mattress-wrapping campaign
(2), SIDS New Zealand is now in the forefront of cot death prevention
in this country."

Dr Sprott is encouraging members of the public who wish to make a
financial contribution to cot death prevention to extend their
support to SIDS New Zealand.(3)

Notes:

1. Tappin et al, Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death
syndrome in Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal
2002;325:1007.

2. Since late 1994 Dr Sprott has been publicising mattress-wrapping
for cot death prevention nationwide in New Zealand, and during that
time a very large number of babies have slept on wrapped mattresses.
There has been no reported cot death among those babies, and during
that period the New Zealand cot death rate has fallen by 48% and the
Pakeha rate by an estimated 75%.

3. To contact SIDS New Zealand phone 0800-164455. SIDS New Zealand
is independent of the New Zealand Cot Death Association (which ran
the now discontinued Red Nose Day appeal in New Zealand).

[END]