The county has established four area fire stations as “safe surrender sites” where parents can brings infants within 72 hours of their birth rather than abandoning them, according to an announcement from the Hollister Police Department.
According to the police statement:
On Tuesday, April 16th, 2013, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors designated four fire stations as Safe Surrender sites in accordance with the Safely Surrendered Baby Law (also known as the Safe Haven Law) that was established in January 2001. The Safely Surrendered Baby law allows immunity from criminal prosecution to parents when surrendering an infant at a public or private hospital, a designated fire station, or other “safe surrender” sites. The law is intended to spare the life of an infant by encouraging parents, or persons with lawful custody, to safely surrender an infant at a “safe surrender” site within 72 hours of the child’s birth rather than abandoning the child in an unsafe location.
You may have heard tragic stories of babies left in dumpsters or public bathrooms. The parents who committed these acts may have been under severe emotional distress. Abandoning a baby puts the child in extreme danger. It is also illegal. Too often, it results in the baby’s death. Because of the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, this tragedy doesn’t ever have to happen again.
How it works:
A parent who is unable or unwilling to care for an infant can legally and confidentially surrender their baby within 3 days of birth to any safe surrender site. A baby can be safely surrendered to an emergency room or fire station personnel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… No questions asked.
What Happens:
When an infant is surrendered at one of these sites, a bracelet will be placed on the baby for identification and a matching bracelet will be given to the parent. A parent has at least 14 days to claim his or her infant. The bracelet will help identify the child if the parent changes their mind during the 14-day cooling off period. During this period the surrendering adult can contact Child Protective Services to reclaim the infant.
Safe Surrender Sites in San Benito County are:
1. Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital – 911 Sunset Drive, Hollister, CA 95023
2. Aromas Fire Station – 492 Carpenteria Road, Aromas, CA 95004
3. Hollister Fire Station 1 – 110 5th Street, Hollister, CA 95023
4. Hollister Fire Station 2 – 1000 Union Road, Hollister, CA 95023
5. CAL FIRE/San Benito County Fire Station – 1979 Fairview Road, Hollister, CA 95023
Every baby deserves a chance for a healthy life. If someone you know is considering abandoning a newborn, let her know there are other options.
Safely Surrendered Baby Law Hotline
1-877-BABY-SAF (1-877-222-9723)
Visit: www.SanBenitoCo.org/ems for more information.
