By William Magnarelli

In the past few months, we have been reading news articles regarding a parent or adult in our Central New York region shaking a baby, which subsequently ends in the death of the child. I just can’t understand how an adult can act so violently toward a baby. It troubles me deeply.
This horrendous act of shaking a baby is known as Shaken Baby Syndrome. There are an estimated 5,000 cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome nationwide each year. In 2004, I was successful in passing legislation that amended the public health law, in relation to establishing a video on the dangers of shaking infants and young children to be viewed by maternity patients and fathers of newborn children.
This bill directed that each hospital must ask all parents of newborns to view, while in the hospital or birth center, a video designed to present the dangers of shaking infants and young children. Following the viewing or upon refusal, each parent must sign a form demonstrating their decision, which will be collected by the Department of Health.
In 2006, I once again revisited the issue of Shaken Baby Syndrome and passed legislation amending the education law. The bill stated that the parenting skills curriculum in secondary schools may include instruction relating to the consequences and prevention of shaken baby syndrome.
In 2007, I again expanded the education and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome by amending the correction law. This bill provided that all inmates receive education, on a periodic basis, on the consequences and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a dangerous but preventable condition. One of every four shaken babies will die; two out of every four who live will suffer from brain injuries that cause comas, paralysis, seizures, blindness, cerebral palsy, severe learning and behavioral problems, mental retardation, hearing and speech loss. Most who survive SBS are dependent on others the rest of their lives.
The average age of an SBS victim is 3 to 8 months, although injury may happen as late as age 5, and the most common perpetrators are males ages 24 to 27.
Despite these facts, it is estimated that as many as half of all Americans do not realize the danger caused by shaking a baby. Education is, therefore, the key to preventing incidence of SBS.
There is no typical profile that describes a parent or caregiver who shakes a child. Anyone can shake a child in moments of frustration or anger. Mothers, fathers, boyfriends of mothers, babysitters and other caregivers give into frustrations and take it out on the child.
I need your help in my campaign to reduce Shaken Baby Syndrome in our community. I am asking that you view an 11-minute video, “Portrait of Promise.” This instructional video can be viewed on the internet at the state Department of Health web site. Go to health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/sbs/portrait_of_promise.htm.
I am also asking that you show this video to your family members who are caring for an infant, show this video to your healthcare providers, pediatricians and schools. We must all do our part to educate and prevent this terrible act of child abuse.
Every year at this time I sponsor a resolution in the NYS Assembly to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome, in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about this or any community issue by calling my Syracuse office at 428-9651, or email me at [email protected].