SBS stands for Shaken Baby Syndrome which is the shaking of an infant or
child by the arms, legs, or shoulders with or without impact of the head. This trauma can result in bleeding and brain injury with no outward signs of abuse. Some
parents inflict SBS upon their baby when they cannot get the baby to calm/quiet down because they are unaware of the damage it would cause the baby. What happens is that shaking, jerking, or jolting can cause blood vessels in the head to tear or burst. The neck muscles of an infant or small
child are
weak, so the
child's head is relatively
heavy and the neck cannot support the stress of shaking or impact.An estimated 1,200 to 1,400 cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) occur each year in the United States. 1 out of 4 babies
die of Shaken Baby Syndrome, HOWEVER, the other three babies will need ongoing medical attention for the rest of their
short lifespans.
The damage includes:
-irreversible brain damage
-broken appendages (ie:spinal cord injury)
-damaged blood cells
-blindness
-cerebral palsy
-hearing loss
-spinal cord injury
-seizures
-learning disabilities
-death