Hoffman Estates Fire Department Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: ADMINISTRATIVE – 031 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Co...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: ADMINISTRATIVE – 031 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Compliance with the Abandoned Newborn Revision: Infant Protection Act 3 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2024 Fire Chief 2 PURPOSE The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act allows a parent to anonymously relinquish her or his newborn infant to the care and custody of a safe haven. It provides a safe alternative to parents who may be under severe emotional distress or are unable to provide for the basic needs of an infant. The law provides immunity from prosecution for parents who relinquish their unharmed newborn to a safe haven under the terms of this law. This policy establishes procedures, consistent with the mandates of the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act (the Act), to be followed in the event that an infant is abandoned at a Hoffman Estates Fire Department Station. In addition, signs identifying each of our stations as a recognized Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act drop-off location, are installed at each of our facilities. DEFINITIONS Newborn - is defined as 30 days old or younger. Relinquish - means leaving an infant with personnel of a hospital, emergency medical facility, staffed fire station, or police station (designated safe havens). This law states that a parent may relinquish an infant anonymously, and it provides procedures that the designated safe havens and government agencies must follow when a parent relinquishes an infant. Safe Haven – a hospital, emergency medical facility, staffed fire station or police station. POLICY If a newborn infant is taken to a staffed fire station, personnel will examine the newborn 1 infant and, if there is no sign of abuse or neglect, transport the infant to the nearest hospital for further examination. If abuse is determined, the fire station personnel must inform law enforcement officials. The law specifies that anyone relinquishing an unharmed newborn to a designated safe haven in Illinois – hospitals, emergency care facilities, manned fire stations, or police stations – be offered an information packet containing the following documents. Please note that this packet may or may not be accepted by the relinquishing parent. These packets are available in the station “change of quarter’s box”. Additional forms are available at www.saveabandonedbabies.org. PROCEDURE EXCEPTIONS REFERENCES (325 ILCS 2/) Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act End of Document 2