Families

Mother “Safely Surrenders” Newborn at Fire Station

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Another San Diego County newborn is safe today after his biological mother took advantage of the state’s Safely Surrender law and brought her infant son to an Oceanside Fire Department station. The healthy child was given up to fire officials.

 This was the 14th infant to be surrendered in San Diego County since the program began in 2001. Eight of the babies were dropped off at hospitals and six at fire stations.

“The Safely Surrendered program is extremely important for ensuring the safety of babies, especially for parents who may find themselves in difficult situations with very few options,” said Margo Fudge with the County’s Health and Human Services Agency. “The alternative – abandoning a baby – is extremely dangerous and should never be an option.”

The “Safe Arms for Newborns” law states that “no parent or other person who has lawful custody of a minor child 72 hours old or younger may be prosecuted for child abandonment if he or she voluntarily surrenders physical custody of the child to a designated employee at a public or private hospital emergency room or other location designated by the County Board of Supervisors”.

Originally only hospitals were designated as Safely Surrender sites, but in 2008 the County Board of Supervisors added nearly 200 County fire stations to the list of safe locations to give up a newborn. Fire stations that are not staffed 24 hours display a sign telling people where to call to find the nearest Safely Surrender site that is open 24/7.

Click here for a link of locations or call 2-1-1.

 

Tom Christensen is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact