BabySafeHaven
10-22-2004, 06:11 AM
MASSACHUSETTS
http://www.webstertimes.net/101304baby.html
October 13, 2004
‘Baby Safe Haven’ to go into effect
BY GINGER COSTEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEBSTER — According to her high school principal and others who testified on
her behalf, she was viewed as a role model for other students and an
academically gifted student who excelled in whatever she did.
Fellow congregation members testified that she was very active in her church
and willing to help others whenever and wherever needed. Her mother spoke of
her as being a model child and a Girl Scout, achieving some of the highest
honors available. Her employer testified and considered her a hard-worker and
devoted to her job.
At her trial, Christina Fiske was described as a leader. This bright 21 year
old, however, is currently serving up to 10 years in prison for killing her
newborn baby.
How is this young North Carolina woman connected to Massachusetts?
Fiske is one of the more than 100 young mothers nationwide who, each year,
abandon their newborns in ditches, toilets, trashcans, rivers, and other
hazardous places. Almost half of these children do not survive.
On July 16, in Springfield, a newborn girl was found abandoned and critically
ill outside a Southampton fire station. The baby was suffering from hypothermia
and blood loss. “Angelique” was one of four babies abandoned in
Massachusetts in the past 18 months.
Massachusetts joined 46 other states on July 30 when an Act Relative to the
Safe Placement of Newborn Infants (G.L.c.119 section 39.5) was signed into law
by Lt. Governor Kerry Healey. The law takes effect on Oct. 28.
Known as the “Baby Safe Haven” law, the act imposes new requirements on
police and fire departments relative to abandoned babies. The law allows a
parent of a newborn infant seven days of age or less to voluntarily place an
infant with an appropriate person at a hospital, police department, or manned
fire station without it automatically being considered abuse or neglect.
Although the other laws across the country vary from 72 hours to 45 days for
the age of the infant, and from complete immunity to affirmative defense in
regards to prosecution, all 46 agree that the two initial points of contact are
a manned fire department or local emergency room.
Webster Fire Department personnel are not waiting until the end of the month to
take action.
“We began developing a policy and procedure process in September” said
Chief Doug Babcock.
Babcock said his department is completely trained and ready if something should
happen.
“Since everyone is already trained on the ABC’s (airway, breathing,
circulation) of CPR and first aid, we started there,” said Ann Peters,
medical training coordinator. “First we check the ABCs and if they’re
breathing well on their own, we move on to note the baby’s temperature, as a
baby can lose body heat rapidly,” she said.
Giving baby “Angelique” as an example, Peters explained the importance of
making sure that the umbilical cord is properly managed and the baby’s head
is covered.
“Angelique almost died from blood loss because her cord hadn’t been tied
off and her body temperature was 84 degrees, which is critical for a newborn
infant,” she said.
Peters is also looking to assemble “Baby Safe bundles” to help the
emergency personnel better respond to the parents and baby.
“I’m looking to make little bundles with a new blanket, newborn diapers and
pacifier, a small knitted cap for the baby’s head and a little age
appropriate toy,” said Peters.
Included with the kits Peters is also adding a simple one-page list of the five
questions needed hoping the parents will respond to the questions in writing.
These kits will be made available to the appropriate responders after they are
complete.
Since neither department has budgeted for this expense, donations of newborn
diapers and pacifiers, new baby blankets, small stocking knit caps and age
appropriate toys can be delivered to the fire or police departments on Thompson
Road.
Since only the police department building is currently staffed 24 hours a day,
signs are being posted at both fire stations notifying anyone needing
assistance after hours to call 911 or proceed to the police department
location.
Peggy Skowron, vice president of nursing at Harrington Memorial Hospital in
Southbridge, said the hospital is also completely ready should the need arise
to deal with an abandoned infant.
“We’ve been proactive with this and are working together with our
departments to make sure everyone knows about the law and what to do,” said
Skowron.
According to Skowron, the state Department of Social Services is responsible
for educating the public and making sure everyone is aware of the new law and
the necessary guidelines that should be followed.
When accepting the newborn from the parent, the act provides that the person at
the facility must make every effort to obtain the following information: name
of the newborn, name and address of the parent(s), birthplace and date, medical
history of both newborn and parents, whether the parents plan to return and
seek future custody, and any other important information.
“While it’s important that the parent provide information, the parent is
not required by the act to provide any information,” said Skowron.
Once a facility has accepted the newborn, it must immediately contact the DSS.
“It’s important for parents to know that placing the newborn does not in
itself automatically terminate parental rights however, for it’s presumed to
be an abandonment for the purposes of authorizing DSS to initiate a petition to
terminate parental rights,” said Babcock.
Babcock also said if physical abuse or neglect is suspected, they are mandated
to report the same to DSS.
http://www.webstertimes.net/101304baby.html
October 13, 2004
‘Baby Safe Haven’ to go into effect
BY GINGER COSTEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEBSTER — According to her high school principal and others who testified on
her behalf, she was viewed as a role model for other students and an
academically gifted student who excelled in whatever she did.
Fellow congregation members testified that she was very active in her church
and willing to help others whenever and wherever needed. Her mother spoke of
her as being a model child and a Girl Scout, achieving some of the highest
honors available. Her employer testified and considered her a hard-worker and
devoted to her job.
At her trial, Christina Fiske was described as a leader. This bright 21 year
old, however, is currently serving up to 10 years in prison for killing her
newborn baby.
How is this young North Carolina woman connected to Massachusetts?
Fiske is one of the more than 100 young mothers nationwide who, each year,
abandon their newborns in ditches, toilets, trashcans, rivers, and other
hazardous places. Almost half of these children do not survive.
On July 16, in Springfield, a newborn girl was found abandoned and critically
ill outside a Southampton fire station. The baby was suffering from hypothermia
and blood loss. “Angelique” was one of four babies abandoned in
Massachusetts in the past 18 months.
Massachusetts joined 46 other states on July 30 when an Act Relative to the
Safe Placement of Newborn Infants (G.L.c.119 section 39.5) was signed into law
by Lt. Governor Kerry Healey. The law takes effect on Oct. 28.
Known as the “Baby Safe Haven” law, the act imposes new requirements on
police and fire departments relative to abandoned babies. The law allows a
parent of a newborn infant seven days of age or less to voluntarily place an
infant with an appropriate person at a hospital, police department, or manned
fire station without it automatically being considered abuse or neglect.
Although the other laws across the country vary from 72 hours to 45 days for
the age of the infant, and from complete immunity to affirmative defense in
regards to prosecution, all 46 agree that the two initial points of contact are
a manned fire department or local emergency room.
Webster Fire Department personnel are not waiting until the end of the month to
take action.
“We began developing a policy and procedure process in September” said
Chief Doug Babcock.
Babcock said his department is completely trained and ready if something should
happen.
“Since everyone is already trained on the ABC’s (airway, breathing,
circulation) of CPR and first aid, we started there,” said Ann Peters,
medical training coordinator. “First we check the ABCs and if they’re
breathing well on their own, we move on to note the baby’s temperature, as a
baby can lose body heat rapidly,” she said.
Giving baby “Angelique” as an example, Peters explained the importance of
making sure that the umbilical cord is properly managed and the baby’s head
is covered.
“Angelique almost died from blood loss because her cord hadn’t been tied
off and her body temperature was 84 degrees, which is critical for a newborn
infant,” she said.
Peters is also looking to assemble “Baby Safe bundles” to help the
emergency personnel better respond to the parents and baby.
“I’m looking to make little bundles with a new blanket, newborn diapers and
pacifier, a small knitted cap for the baby’s head and a little age
appropriate toy,” said Peters.
Included with the kits Peters is also adding a simple one-page list of the five
questions needed hoping the parents will respond to the questions in writing.
These kits will be made available to the appropriate responders after they are
complete.
Since neither department has budgeted for this expense, donations of newborn
diapers and pacifiers, new baby blankets, small stocking knit caps and age
appropriate toys can be delivered to the fire or police departments on Thompson
Road.
Since only the police department building is currently staffed 24 hours a day,
signs are being posted at both fire stations notifying anyone needing
assistance after hours to call 911 or proceed to the police department
location.
Peggy Skowron, vice president of nursing at Harrington Memorial Hospital in
Southbridge, said the hospital is also completely ready should the need arise
to deal with an abandoned infant.
“We’ve been proactive with this and are working together with our
departments to make sure everyone knows about the law and what to do,” said
Skowron.
According to Skowron, the state Department of Social Services is responsible
for educating the public and making sure everyone is aware of the new law and
the necessary guidelines that should be followed.
When accepting the newborn from the parent, the act provides that the person at
the facility must make every effort to obtain the following information: name
of the newborn, name and address of the parent(s), birthplace and date, medical
history of both newborn and parents, whether the parents plan to return and
seek future custody, and any other important information.
“While it’s important that the parent provide information, the parent is
not required by the act to provide any information,” said Skowron.
Once a facility has accepted the newborn, it must immediately contact the DSS.
“It’s important for parents to know that placing the newborn does not in
itself automatically terminate parental rights however, for it’s presumed to
be an abandonment for the purposes of authorizing DSS to initiate a petition to
terminate parental rights,” said Babcock.
Babcock also said if physical abuse or neglect is suspected, they are mandated
to report the same to DSS.
