First responders promote resources to safely surrender babies
After a newborn infant was found deceased over the weekend near Mozingo Lake in Maryville, officials are pointing to resources and solutions for those who need to surrender a child.
Maryville Public Safety is still investigating the cause of death and circumstances, and interim Police Chief Mike Stolte said no further information will be released at this time to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted.
While it is unclear what led to the death of the infant in this specific tragedy, officials are highlighting the importance of Safe Haven laws so people know that they have options if they do not want or cannot care for a newborn. In Missouri, the Safe Place for Newborns Act was established in 2002 and revised in 2014. It allows a parent to permanently give up a newborn up to 45 days old without prosecution, as long as it is done according to law and safely.
“There’s no questions asked, all you have to do is hand over the child and we will take care of the child,” said Assistant Fire Chief Jamey McVicker with the St. Joseph Fire Department.
The Safe Place for Newborns Act states that newborns can be surrendered to law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and hospital staff. Some state laws require a face-to-face surrender, but in Missouri, it’s only asked that the agency is aware a child has been dropped off by giving some form of contact.
“Our role is to provide prevention and awareness,” McVicker said. “The public needs to be aware that we will take any child, no matter what hours of the day, and make sure that child is properly transported to the nearest hospital. We would rather do this on any given day than to see something unfortunate happen to an innocent child.”
Signs are posted next to the door of all fire stations in St. Joseph that instruct a caregiver what number to dial to inform a staff member a child has been dropped off.
Safe Haven baby boxes — “boxes” that hold a bassinet and are installed at fire stations and hospitals that allow for a person to drop off a baby anonymously — have become one increasingly popular solution across the country as lawmakers look for ways to assist parents in crisis by providing various options to safely surrender newborns.
Local fire departments are hopeful they will see the lifesaving drop-off boxes implemented at some point in the future.
“There’s been some surface-level talk about a Safe Haven box being provided at our local departments, but I’m not aware of any momentum going for it quite yet. I am looking forward to hearing how it comes along and where the fire department can play a role because anything we can do to help give that child a chance is vital, and no parent should feel ashamed.”
