Media Advisory

Mabel Bassett Correctional Center
to Deliver Hand-Knitted Purple Caps

What: Mabel Bassett Correctional Center delivering purple caps for
“CLICK for Babies”

When: Tuesday, October 10th
11 a.m. until noon

Where: Oklahoma State Department of Health
1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117

Background: On August 1st, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH)
announced a campaign to gather purple knitted and crocheted hats from the community. This campaign is to create awareness of the Period of PURPLE Crying to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Currently, 41 birthing hospitals across the state participate in providing new mothers with the Period of PURPLE Crying DVD to educate them on normal crying patterns, how to cope with unsoothable crying, and the importance of never shaking a baby. Along with the DVD, in the months of November and December, each newborn will receive a purple baby cap as a reminder of the importance of never shaking a baby.

After the initial press release on this campaign, the movement went viral. To date, the OSDH has received more than 40,000 purple caps from around the world. The inmates at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center saw the story and decided to take up the challenge.

On Tuesday, staff from the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center will be delivering more than 900 caps hand-made by the inmates to OSDH staff. These caps will be placed with the thousands of others, washed, tagged, and distributed to birthing hospitals around the state.

Media wanting to attend the event should contact Cody McDonell at codym@health.ok.gov, or call (405) 271-5601. Interviews with DOC and OSDH staff will be available. For more information on the Period of PURPLE Crying, visit clickcampaign.health.ok.gov

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