An unprecedented event takes place on 39 Denver area radio stations Wednesday.
All 39 will broadcast simultaneously a 30-second message: “No matter how much she cries, no matter how tired you are, no matter how frustrated you get, never, ever shake a baby.”
Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of trauma deaths at The Children’s Hospital. Nationally, more than 1,500 children under 3 die of abuse every year, most of them from SBS.
The 30-second radio spot, part of a planned media blitz, begins with a screeching baby, one grating enough to give any caregiver the whim-whams.
The message: Nice people shake babies too. “It evokes an emotional response,” said Dr. Andrew Sirotnak during a press conference on Monday.
Don’t do it. “Babies cry for a reason. Never, ever shake a baby.” Shaking a baby can cause brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, paralysis and death.
“Poster child” for the campaign is 9-year-old Hunter Stelzel, who survived being shaken as an infant but has endured 19 surgeries to correct resulting problems.
The 39 stations taking part in Wednesday’s message, sponsored by Kohl’s, Children’s and the Kempe Center, are owned by Clear Channel, Lincoln Financial Media, Entravision, Entercom, CBS Radio, NRC Broadcasting and Denver Radio Co.
It’s what they do
Local television and radio newsies lining up to read for the 11th annual National Record-A-Thon for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
Already signed up to take part the week of April 23 are Asha Blake and Ernie Bjorkman, KWGN-Channel 2; Molly
Hughes, Dave Aguilera and Kathy Walsh, KCNC-Channel 4; Bertha Lynn and Mike Landess, KMGH-Channel 7; Adele Arakawa, Bazi Kanani and Marty Coniglio, KUSA-Channel 9; Libby Weaver, KDVR-Channel 31, and Kelly Ford, KYGO 98.5-FM.
Also scheduled to read are Colorado first lady Frances Owens, Mayor Hick and historian Tom Noel. The RFB&D is looking for regular-folk volunteers to read too. Info at 303-757-0787.
Around the dial
Oldies station KXKL 105.1-FM (“KOOL”) cleaned out its morning show Monday, firing Rich “The Coach” Marshall, J.J., and newsman Steve Alexander. Station manager Don Howe, citing low ratings, said a new crew will be in place within a week. Afternoon jock Dan Mitchell is filling in … KMGH-Channel 7 weatherman Mike Nelson and others discuss “Colorado Climate – Trouble Ahead?” at a free seminar starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield … Denver author Stephen Singular’s appearance on “Anderson Cooper 360” has been rescheduled to Wednesday night (9 p.m., CNN) … Quotable: “Every good act is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.” Moliere
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
