Why do people abandon babies at fire station?

Why is California Doing This? The purpose of the Safely Surrendered Baby Law is to protect babies from being hurt or killed because they were abandoned. You may have heard tragic stories of babies left in dumpsters or public toilets. The persons who committed these acts may have been under severe emotional distress.

Do people actually leave babies at fire departments?

The Abandoned Infant Newborn Protection Act requires that every fire station must accept a relinquished newborn infant in accordance with the law. After the relinquishment of a newborn infant, fire station personnel must arrange for the transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital.

When can you leave a baby at a fire station?

* Your baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe. * You may take your baby to any hospital, freestanding emergency medical care facility, fire station, or emergency medical services (EMS) station in Texas.

Where do people leave babies?

Leaving a baby somewhere when no one is around does not qualify. Most states outline locations considered ‘safe havens. ‘ These locations may include health care clinics, police stations, fire stations, emergency medical technicians (EMT), churches, and other “safe” places a state deems acceptable.

What happens if you find an abandoned baby?

“In 16 states, safe relinquishment of the infant is an affirmative defense in any prosecution of the parent or his/her agent for any crime against the child, such as abandonment, neglect, or child endangerment.”

What do hospitals do with unwanted babies?

DCFS is notified of the relinquishment and, if not already at a medical facility, the infant is taken to the nearest hospital to receive medical care. DCFS then appoints a licensed adoption agency to arrange for placement of the infant with an adoptive family.

Can I keep a baby if I find one?

If you found an abandoned baby today, could you keep it? Absolutely not! Even with property, you can’t just keep any lost item you find on the street. If you do find a baby, call the authorities right away.

Can I just give my baby to a family member?

The answer is yes. Whether they plan on “giving a baby up” for adoption to a friend, family member, or someone they’ve met through their own networking efforts, these arrangements are known as independent, or identified, adoptions.

What do fire stations do with abandoned babies?

Fire Station Protocol The Abandoned Infant Newborn Protection Act requires that every fire station must accept a relinquished newborn infant in accordance with the law. After the relinquishment of a newborn infant, fire station personnel must arrange for the transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital.

Why did a mother leave her newborn twins at the fire station?

A mother left her newborn twins at the fire station, because of the ‘Safe Haven” law. The “Safe Haven” law was created in order to allow a safe place for mothers to drop off their babies without being prosecuted.

What should a fire department do when it receives a newborn?

Upon receiving a newborn infant, personnel should make a physical appraisal of the condition of the infant and if any signs of abuse or neglect are noted, the relinquishing person should be held until an investigation can be completed. A detailed example of a fire department protocol can be found by clicking here .

How many babies have been dropped off from Nebraska hospitals?

Under the prior version of the law, at least 35 children were dropped off in Nebraska hospitals in a four-month span, at least 5 of them from other US states. The law was changed in November 2008, allowing only infants up to 30 days old to be surrendered.