476 Period of purple crying program for the prevention of abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome

To review instances of abusive head trauma in Ireland and the United Kingdom To discuss the benefits of the Period of Purple Crying program To begin the pathways to implement the Period of Purple Crying program in Ireland. Research published since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a marked increase in the instances of abusive head trauma in the United Kingdom. While there are many contributing factors to abusive head trauma, in these cases one of the main precipitants was the enforced isolation during the pandemic. An educational program is needed now more than ever to highlight the drastic consequences of abusive head trauma in infants and educate parents on what level of crying is to be expected from infants. Areas that have implemented the Period of Purple Crying program have seen a reduction in the numbers of abusive head traumas. Other benefits of the program included an increased awareness among parents of what to do when a baby is crying. Cost-of-illness analysis also shows that the implementation of a program can have massive cost-saving benefits. Ireland does not currently have a preventative program for shaken baby syndrome. The National Healthy Childhood Programme includes child health screen and developmental surveillance and would be an ideal means by which to introduce the Period of Purple Crying program. This service provides for parent contact with healthcare professionals at least twenty-five times beginning in pregnancy and ending at the child’s third birthday. More research is also needed regarding exact numbers of abusive head trauma in Ireland.