NC - Investigating Infant Deaths At Ft Bragg 9/1/10

[LaLaw2000]

Definitely following this closely as my daughter lives on base in base housing with 2 babies.

I understand, Noexcuse. My one and only great granddaughter was born at Womack, but they do not live on post. They live in Fayetteville as she is USAF at Pope, and he is Army and at Ft. Bragg.

Prayers for your daughter, grandbabies, and you. You and she need to be able to have the piece of mind of knowing just what caused those deaths. Neither of you should have to worry about the safety of an Army Post.

I want to know what caused this!

 

[LaLaw2000]

You know, they might also want to look at the quality of care at the base hospital's pediatric clinic.
(I mean in addition to looking for environmental causes.)

I agree, Steadfast. Everything must be looked at.

Something is wrong because I just do not believe that many babies would have died with no cause having been found. It would not have been from SIDS because SIDS is not as common as most people think and certainly not in one concentrated area.

JMO

 

[Missizzy]

This might be a silly question but are pets allowed in military housing? If so, I'd be very interested to see the vet records from the same areas and times. Animals are extremely sensitive to chemicals and can actually be like canaries--warning of dangers. Small dogs and birds, I believe, are known to be the first to suffer illnesses. Birds are sensitive to fumes and molds and small dogs come into such close contact with any pesticide on the ground. Remember pets and babies spend a lot of time on the floor. I wonder what sort of sealants or carpet cleaners have been used.

Another thing to look at would be people on base with compromised immune systems ie. multiple sclerosis, HIV, lupus, and so on. Those would be the next in line. I realize that the soldiers themselves wouldn't have these health issues but how about spouses, children, or a visiting relative. Any uptick in illnesses there?

 

[STEADFAST]

This might be a silly question but are pets allowed in military housing? If so, I'd be very interested to see the vet records from the same areas and times. Animals are extremely sensitive to chemicals and can actually be like canaries--warning of dangers. Small dogs and birds, I believe, are known to be the first to suffer illnesses. Birds are sensitive to fumes and molds and small dogs come into such close contact with any pesticide on the ground. Remember pets and babies spend a lot of time on the floor. I wonder what sort of sealants or carpet cleaners have been used.

Another thing to look at would be people on base with compromised immune systems ie. multiple sclerosis, HIV, lupus, and so on. Those would be the next in line. I realize that the soldiers themselves wouldn't have these health issues but how about spouses, children, or a visiting relative. Any uptick in illnesses there?

Pets are allowed in some military housing areas. Only dogs, cats, and fish, though, and those are usually limited to two. Nowdays there are also breed restrictions. Most bases, especially Army bases, have excellent vet facilities because they look after the health of the military dogs that serve along with the soldiers -- but dependent pets can go there, too. I agree their records should be checked.
I'm pretty sure Tricare would sit up and take notice if an unusually large group of dependents in one area developed chronic illnesses that it would have to pay for. Visitors are limited to only two weeks in military housing. (Not sure how many people pay any attention to that rule, though.)

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Maybe if I would read the articles more carefully, I could answer my own questions before I ask them! (I jump in pretty fast if I think I see a problem caused by privatization, since I'm agin' it.) From the link in the OP:


Article says there are 18,000 residents in housing at Ft. Bragg. I wonder how many babies die in a three-year period in a town of 18,000? Of course, three unrelated ones in one house has GOT to be way out of the norm. They need to get to the bottom of this and raze that death unit to the ground!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hD_F7trFUfYA9F1I5TOebqqHzjZwD9HULI580

Part of the investigation aims to determine whether 10 deaths in just under four years is itself an alarming departure from the norm. That's complicated by the fact that it's hard to establish how many infants are living on the base at any one time.

There are about 3,000 babies born every year at Womack, Sicinski said, which makes it the busiest maternity hospital in the U.S. military. But an unknown number of babies are born elsewhere and move to Bragg with their families.

Nationally, the rate is about .5 SIDS deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the American SIDS Institute



--- Going off this, I'm assuming 10 deaths in 3 years is quite higher than normal. Not to mention, of course, the three that lived at the same address.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

So, it seems two of the babies at one house were from the same family . . .

Jay'Vair Pollard was a little more than 2 months old when he quit breathing April 15, 2009. The baby died that morning while sleeping in his mother's arms at their home on Fort Bragg.

The boy's grandmother, Lori Gray, said she had never cried so hard in her life.

That was until three months later, when another of her grandchildren, 7-month-old Ka'Mya Frey, died while taking a nap in the same home on the military post.

http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/09/02/1026958?sac=Home


NOT that I'm trying to implicate anything, but it does raise another question. Although, we still have the third baby that died who lived there, too.

All babies are between 2 wks and 8 mos. Whatever this is seems to only affect young infants.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Interesting article regarding Ft Bragg in light of these infant deaths --


Frawley's 10-minute video shows still photos from throughout the building, which appears to be falling apart and filled with mold and rust.

Paint -- which Frawley said is lead-based -- is chipping. Ceiling tiles are missing. A broken drain pipe allows sewer gas into the building, while another one has tissues stuffed into it in an apparent effort to stop the gas from coming in.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/28/barracks.bragg/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

 

[Belinda]

Am I missing something? How could the woman have a 2-month-old and a 4-month-old at the same time? If it was 3 months later and the 2nd baby was 7-months-old, it would have been 4-months-old, when the 1st one died. Very confused.

ETA: Nevermind, I got it. Different moms, same family. I can do this. Just takes time. LOL

 

[Belinda]

Interesting article regarding Ft Bragg in light of these infant deaths --


Frawley's 10-minute video shows still photos from throughout the building, which appears to be falling apart and filled with mold and rust.

Paint -- which Frawley said is lead-based -- is chipping. Ceiling tiles are missing. A broken drain pipe allows sewer gas into the building, while another one has tissues stuffed into it in an apparent effort to stop the gas from coming in.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/28/barracks.bragg/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

This is absolutely unacceptable. And then for the military to pretend like they are surprised and didn't know about the conditions is a crock. Shame on them for treating our soldiers like this!

 

[nursebeeme]

after living in military housing for the greater part of the last 20 years ((((and thanks Steadfast for linking me to this story my sister in arms and hi to fellow sister in arms Kat! and any that I have missed))))) I can say that for the most part military people live on base for a reason... especially since the PRIVITIZATION of what used to be a BENEFIT.

What used to be as perk to the job... a way to save a buck (and live in cramped, close up quarters) is now the equivalent OR MORE of buying or renting off post since privitization. (sp)

What has happened is that military posts have sold their on post housing units over the last several years to private companies that manage the units including maintenance, paint, guts of the building, new buildings beings built, etc.

These companies basically take the money that you are allocated by rank for monthly housing... the whole amount. For instance.. say you are a private and the army gives you 700 a month to live off base... than if you move into on post quarters ((which used to be a benefit)) the entire 700 goes to the private company. Say a first sgt moves in next to you.. in the same sort of units... and he, based on rank and time in service, gets 1200 a month in housing... well they take that entire amount as well. Do you see where I am going with this???

My point is that the whole housing department of the military... since privitizing it... has went to hell in a handbasket... and trust me... the newer homes they are building are just as bad! I have had friends on the last post we lived at with cracked foundations, chipping plaster... bad plumbing! Is this just limited to one post (the one I was on?)? Not sure but I am almost certain this is not the case!

Bottom line is that privitization has been VERY BAD all around for military on post housing and I have to wonder if it has anything to do with this horrible situation.. as privitization started right around 2007!

And just an aside... but after taking all of your housing allowance... per what your rank is for a unit.. these private companies now also, in some places, charge the service members for utilities as well.

How is that for an onpost military beneift!

-----------------------

on another note as a nurse.... sids can be genetic ( I notice two the the babies were from the same family):

The tragic mystery of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a bit closer to being solved. New research shows that genetics may play a role.

In a study appearing this month in Pediatrics Research, researchers identify genetic variations, which change the function of proteins among babies who died of SIDS. More than two-thirds were black, reports researcher Debra E. Weese-Mayer, MD, a pediatrician at Rush Children's Hospital at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Public health officials have been frustrated about the still-high numbers of SIDS deaths. After the nationwide Back to Sleep campaign -- which educated parents on safe sleeping positions for infants -- the numbers of SIDS deaths did decline. Yet black infants still had the highest death rates compared with white infants, writes Weese-Mayer.

In fact, infants of all ethnic groups continue to have higher SIDS rates. This was true, even though caregivers had carefully followed all safety practices, she says.

Other studies have provided "strong evidence" pointing to a gene that controls the hormone serotonin, Weese-Mayer says. Serotonin influences a wide range of functions, such as regulating breathing, blood circulation, heart rate, body temperature, and the sleep-wake cycle. Indeed, SIDS infants have had profuse sweating, high temperature, and irregular heartbeat.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20040819/sids-genetics-may-play-role
above all just wanted to share a little bit about military on post housing... I have much more to share on it!

 

[lonetraveler]

ITA LaLaw. I'm leaning toward it being environmental in some way. I wonder if that is a base that stores chemical weapons like mine does? Something is way off here and I'm glad they are looking into it. The part about 2 babies dying 3 months apart in the same house is extremely off the wall.

That's three babies dying in the same house. It has got to be environmentally, I'm thinking........

 

[TGIRecovered]

I agree Steadfast, get rid of those set of quarters for sure!

You know, I can't remember where I read it, but a nurse (active duty) pointed it out to me one day. We were just chatting (we were acquainted and chit-chatting) and we were talking about the number of children who die that are military dependents.

She said that our numbers look skewed or elevated because of the demographics of our communities.

Demographically, most members of the Service are between ages 18-40 (with a few old timers like me and my Husband haha just a joke, not really!)

Those are the ages for child bearing years as well.

Makes sense. The article outlined why it appears our incidents of death in infants and children appear elevated by demographics. It was a print article and I'm not sure I could find it on the internet.

But that's a lot of infant deaths at fort bragg though! All JMHO.

:waitasec: This sounds plausable at first glance, but (MOO), the true results would depend upon if a study compared percent of total population on vs. off base who died as babies, or percent of babies who died while residing on base vs. babies off base. Using percent of babies, adult ages wouldn't matter.

I'm betting on insecticide or toxic septic gas. The babies who died were newborn to 8 months. Prime time for floor time, 'ya know? Pacifiers falling out of their mouths, little hands and faces on the floor learning to roll and crawl....wonder if they had carpet, tile, or wood? Something used to clean the floors?

 

[teedie2]

Now eleven infant deaths since 2007.

http://www.military.com/news/article/bragg-infants-death-brings-toll-to-11.html?ESRC=family.nl

<snipped>

"A 5-month-old child who had been living in Fort Bragg housing died Saturday evening at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, military officials said Monday.
It was the 11th time since 2007 that an infant living on the military installation died suddenly of unknown causes. "

The investigation into the cause of these deaths is ongoing. Lots more at link.

What a heartbreaking situation.

 

[Noexcuse]

Paraglide



Since 2007, there have been nine infant deaths on Fort Bragg with the cause of death listed as &#8220;undetermined&#8221; and one listed as &#8220;sudden infant death syndrome.&#8221;

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/fort-bragg-paraglide/bragg-infant-mortality-rate-below-state-us-average/176175999086575

 

[Kat]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/27/whats-killing-babies-fort-bragg/?test=latestnews

Published March 27, 2011

Not going to copy and paste any of the article because it's an interesting read. It looks like the deaths are still within the average infant mortality rate for that area.

Very sad. My Prayers to these families.

 

[peeples]

what gets me about the story is that 3 of the children all lived in the same town home at one point.....

 

[Kat]

Me too peeples.

 

[AsoldiersGrits]

I have lived on base at Bragg. In both new and old housing. When we moved into the second house (old) we found our bathroom ceiling was starting to break out with mold.I told housing and they came checked it out said it was harmless (umm ok?) it was cleaned up then it started coming back again I was told it was ok.I was also told to take a shower with the window open and the fan on.umm my husband was deployed I lived alone I am NOT taking a shower with the window open. They then cane in
A "took care" of the mold by painting over it. We finally moved into a newly remodeled house and our old house was gutted and remodeled. you can tell the houses were old there layer after layer of paint on the walls. Wood floors that no matter what you did smelled and left socks dirty. We also lived on post before picerne took over (that house had mold too) alot has changed since the house are now being contracted out. I feel bad for those families.
As for the hospitals..well like most places you have people that had a good experience and those that had a bad.
My birthing experience was stressful once they figured out I
Needed an emergency c-section to save my son it was smooth after that. Only thing that went wrong was they listed my son as a girl. And
Miss diagnosed his eye duct problem (the said it was and infection gave meds and everything I took him to a new ped. And come to find out it was a closed tear duct(something small)) my friend
How ever had a horrible experience and almost last her baby. I don't know if it's the medical staff or not but im leaning more towards the older houses. (IF these babies deaths are related)

(exuse the typos,I'm on my phone)

 

[AsoldiersGrits]

Everyone one post that you talk to say the town homes need to be knocked down and start fresh with those. Not just gut them like the single family houses. The town homes are pretty bad.

 

[nyc]

This link is the fuller story and has a lot more details that were not in the Fox story (which was a summary of this one).

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/03/27/1084872/drywall-sids-whats-killing-babies.html

Reading the above article makes me MUCH more suspicious that something environmental is causing these babies to die. The death of the little baby who was spitting up blood certainly did not sound like a SIDS death to me. And the symptoms that many of these babies had (chronic colds, etc.) that would go away when they were away from the housing is also very suspicious. And the poor mother whose baby died is now back in the housing with another baby and that baby is now having these same symptoms! I would be out of there so fast. Those poor people. I was raised in a military family and have great respect for the military, but this sounds like a situation where they are not moving fast enough to protect these military families--whatever the mystery cause is, something is seriously wrong!