June 09, 2010
Imperial County Fire Stations Designated as Safe Surrender Sites
The Imperial County Fire Department announced today that County fire stations will be the first non-hospital Safe Surrender Sites in Imperial County.
As Safe Surrender Sites, five County fire stations will be able to accept babies that are surrendered under the California Safely Surrendered Baby (SSB) Law which permits the parent (s) or surrendering person to safely and confidently surrender a baby within three days of birth without fear of prosecution. The Imperial, Heber, Seeley and Ocotillo fire stations have all been designated Safe Surrender Sites in Imperial County. Pioneers Memorial Hospital and El Centro Regional Medical Center have been designated Safe Surrender Sites since 2001. With the addition of County Fire, there are now a total of seven (7) Safe Surrender Sites in Imperial County.
The Safely Surrendered Baby (SSB) law was implemented in California in response to the increasing number of abandoned baby deaths in the State. There were situations where babies were left in dumpsters, public restrooms or other unsafe locations. The SSB law provides a safe alternative to desperate mothers who are unwilling or unable to keep their babies. Under the law, a parent or person with lawful custody can safely and confidently surrender an unharmed baby within 72 hours of birth to any hospital or designated Safe Surrender Site in California – no questions asked. The parent or surrendering person is not required to provide his or her name
and is protected from prosecution for child abandonment if the baby has not suffered abuse. Infants can be surrendered on any day of the week, 24 hours a day. The parent or surrendering individual has up to 14 days from the time of the safe surrender to claim the baby. In addition to California, at least 46 other states have such laws in place to discourage baby abandonment.
“All County Fire staff at five fire stations has received extensive training and are prepared to assist and serve as a Safe Surrender Sites in our area,” stated Chief Tony Rouhotas.
“Although unlawful child abandonment has not been a big issue in our County, it is important that the public and especially mothers are aware that this option is available to them so that infants are not placed in situations where their life may be in danger.”
The Safe Surrender Logo was adopted by the State of California for use in its Safe Surrender Baby Law campaign, “No Shame, No Blame, No Names.” The logo also serves as a uniform site marker, and is displayed prominently at all designated Safe Surrender sites.
California law requires all designated safe surrender sites in California to post the logo.
As of March 31, 2010, 348 newborns have been safely surrendered in California while another 151 infants have been found alive following their illegal abandonment. Since the SSB law has been in place in California, one child has been surrendered at a hospital Safe Surrender Site in Imperial County. Residents in California’s 58 counties can call the toll-free hotline (1-877-BABYSAF and 1-877-222-9723) and receive hospital and designated fire station safe surrender site locations within their communities. Information on the Safely Surrendered Baby Law is also available at www.babysafe.ca.gov
The Safely Surrendered Baby (SSB) law was implemented in California in response to the increasing number of abandoned baby deaths in the State. There were situations where babies were left in dumpsters, public restrooms or other unsafe locations. The SSB law provides a safe alternative to desperate mothers who are unwilling or unable to keep their babies. Under the law, a parent or person with lawful custody can safely and confidently surrender an unharmed baby within 72 hours of birth to any hospital or designated Safe Surrender Site in California – no questions asked. The parent or surrendering person is not required to provide his or her name
and is protected from prosecution for child abandonment if the baby has not suffered abuse. Infants can be surrendered on any day of the week, 24 hours a day. The parent or surrendering individual has up to 14 days from the time of the safe surrender to claim the baby. In addition to California, at least 46 other states have such laws in place to discourage baby abandonment.
“All County Fire staff at five fire stations has received extensive training and are prepared to assist and serve as a Safe Surrender Sites in our area,” stated Chief Tony Rouhotas.
“Although unlawful child abandonment has not been a big issue in our County, it is important that the public and especially mothers are aware that this option is available to them so that infants are not placed in situations where their life may be in danger.”
The Safe Surrender Logo was adopted by the State of California for use in its Safe Surrender Baby Law campaign, “No Shame, No Blame, No Names.” The logo also serves as a uniform site marker, and is displayed prominently at all designated Safe Surrender sites.
California law requires all designated safe surrender sites in California to post the logo.
As of March 31, 2010, 348 newborns have been safely surrendered in California while another 151 infants have been found alive following their illegal abandonment. Since the SSB law has been in place in California, one child has been surrendered at a hospital Safe Surrender Site in Imperial County. Residents in California’s 58 counties can call the toll-free hotline (1-877-BABYSAF and 1-877-222-9723) and receive hospital and designated fire station safe surrender site locations within their communities. Information on the Safely Surrendered Baby Law is also available at www.babysafe.ca.gov