In June, a team of Observer journalists brought you disturbing new evidence that a medical diagnosis called sudden infant death syndrome often masks a terrible truth about babies who die in North Carolina:

In many instances, such deaths are actually attributable to other causes.

On today's front page, we examine more closely another child's death after family members read our series and called us with their questions about SIDS.

When we present problems, we believe it is just as vital to report on solutions. After all, journalists who spend months uncovering a problem, as this team did, are often in an ideal position to see answers.

That is why a major segment of this investigative series, "Cradle of Secrets," also detailed precautions that parents should take to help protect their infants from SIDS.

To help do that job well, we turned to our award-winning news graphics editor, Bill Pitzer, and asked: "If you had a full page of the newspaper to illustrate how to protect a child from SIDS, what would you put there?"

Bill teamed with Karen Garloch, the Observer's medical writer, and the two consulted a number of experts, both locally and nationally. The result was a Safe Sleep Guide that explains in easy-to-follow terms the steps that parents can take to help avert such tragedy.

We published this page as part of the series. And as soon as it appeared, the calls and e-mails rolled in. A major hospital wanted extra copies to frame for its walls and hand out to new parents. Doctors saw it as a tool to educate patients. Others wanted to send them to friends with infants.

Bill's own wife got such a call. A close friend had just had her first great-grandchild, and she wanted that child safe.

"I've been doing this for a long time," said Bill, who has 40 years of experience as an illustrator. "In terms of the artwork I did for this page, it was less involved than many of my projects. That was intentional. I wanted the emphasis to be on the important information. But this graphic has probably had as much impact as anything I've done."

The reaction convinced us that we should find a way to get this guide into as many hands as possible. So we put it back on our presses and printed more. And thanks to the generosity of an underwriter, the Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center, we are able to offer it to the public for free.

Copies will be available for as long as they last in our lobby at 600 S. Tryon St. You may pick one up between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You can also view or download copies at no charge at www.charlotteobserver.com/sids . If you would like to print a copy, we recommend paper larger than the typical 8.5-by-11-inch sheet. If that's not workable, we suggest that you download the guide and take it to a print shop.

The above Web address is also where you will find the entire series. I can't stress enough how important these stories are for all parents and caregivers with infants. If you know one, please encourage them to read our work. This is about saving children.

In response to the series, a pediatrician of 30 years described to us his two most dreaded assignments: being called to an emergency room in a futile effort to resuscitate an infant SIDS victim, and then giving the tragic news to the family.

"Thank you again for your efforts to educate your readership about the most common cause of death in babies in N.C., and promoting safe sleeping conditions for all babies," the pediatrician wrote.

To which we say, no, thank you. It is your support as subscribers and readers of the Observer that makes this kind of public service journalism possible. We are both grateful and committed to continue reporting for you on topics that are crucial to our communities.