Red Nose Day 2021: You can help stop the alarming rate of 3,000 Aussie babies dying suddenly and unexpectedly each year

TRIGGER WARNING: Infant loss and stillbirth.

Australians are being ‘mobile-ised’ to raise vital funds today on this 33rd Red Nose Day – to help curb the devastation of more than 3,000 babies and young children who die each year. That’s 9 little lives lost every day to stillbirth, sudden infant death and other causes.

With Red Nose Day (Friday 13 August) falling while many Australians adhere to various social distancing, work-from-home and lockdown requirements, Red Nose is asking those who can to get silly for our serious cause by getting involved in Red Nose Day online.

Red Nose Day’s Digital Red Nose will be taking over Instagram and Facebook, while their online store is stocked with noses, silly socks and more. Dedicated Red Nose volunteers will also be manning Red Nose Day’s virtual telethon.

Since COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced across Australia last year, Red Nose has experienced a surge in requests for support from families who have lost a beloved baby during this difficult time.

Calls to the Red Nose 24/7 Grief and Loss Support Line have increased by 45 percent over the past year, while they’ve delivered 40 percent more counselling sessions. Calls to the Red NoseSafe Sleep Advice Line from worried parents have jumped 20 percent.

All of these services are among the suite of new parent advice and bereavement supports funded by Red Nose Day. Funds raised also go toward ground-breaking research to unlock the causes of stillbirth and infant death, and to spearhead prevention efforts.

“It’s clear that as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Australians need Red Nose Day more than ever,” says Keren Ludski, CEO, Red Nose Australia.

“Red Nose is currently doing everything we can to provide vital support to grieving families, and evidence-based reassurance to nervous new parents worried about SIDS and baby safety

“Red Nose Day is absolutely critical for us to be able to continue these support services and to fund research that will create an Australia where not one baby dies suddenly or unexpectedly- that’s the ultimate goal.

“We’ve pivoted our fundraising to respond to the needs of Australians in lockdown by focusing on our online fundraising efforts, and we dearly hope that Australia joins us today in getting silly for our serious cause.”

For Australians thinking about supporting Red Nose Day this year:

• $45 can help save a baby’s life by funding a parent’s call to the Red Nose Safe Sleep Advice Line.
• $80 provides immediate support for a grief-stricken family in crisis.
• $128 funds a hospital discharge pack, with all the tools a new parent needs to keep baby safe at home.
• $250 helps fund vital prevention research into the reasons why babies die from sudden infant death and stillbirth.