Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Newborn Infants Policy PDF

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: REGINALD K. DUREN FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: NEWBORN INFANTS LEFT AT FIRE...

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: REGINALD K. DUREN FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: NEWBORN INFANTS LEFT AT FIRE STATIONS PPM #: FR-O-504 ISSUE DATE EFFECTIVE DATE November 4, 2020 November 18, 2020 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to identify the actions to be taken should a newborn infant approximately (7) seven days old or less be left by a parent at a fire station with a firefighter or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). EXPLANATION: On July 1st, 2000, the Treatment of Surrendered Newborn Infant (F.S. 383.50) went into effect. This law stipulates that hospitals, fire stations, and EMS shall admit and provide all necessary services and care to a newborn infant brought to their facility pursuant to this law. The law allows for parents to surrender a newborn infant (approximately 7 days old or less) at a fire station or hospital permitting that facility is a staffed 24/7 facility. The parent has the absolute right to remain anonymous and to leave at any time and may not be pursued or followed unless the parent seeks to reclaim the newborn infant. This law also provides immunity for Firefighters and EMTs acting under this statute. UPDATES: Future updates to this PPM are the responsibility of the Deputy Chief of Operations, in conjunction with the PPM Committee, under the authority of the Fire Rescue Administrator. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator  Florida State Statute Chapter 383.50 Treatment of Surrendered Newborn Infant  Florida State Statute Chapter 383.51 Confidentiality – Parent(s)  Gloria M. Silverio Foundation – A Safe Haven for Newborns SCOPE: This policy applies to all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: Safe Haven Overview Attachment B: Safe Haven Medical Questionnaire i. English ii. Spanish iii. Creole Attachment C: Birthmother Card FR-O-504/Page 1 of 4 POLICY: FIRE STATION SAFE HAVEN SIGNAGE All fire stations will be posted with the approved “Safe Haven” signage. PARENT(S) ATTEMPT TO REGAIN NEWBORN INFANT PRIOR TO TRANSPORT On rare occasions, a parent(s) may attempt to regain custody of a newborn infant while still in the custody of Fire-Rescue personnel. The law allows for a parent(s) to regain custody from Fire-Rescue personnel as long as there are no obvious signs of physical abuse to the newborn infant. It is suggested that after accepting a newborn infant, personnel provide immediate transportation to the appropriate hospital as quickly as possible. It is recommended you consider the state of mind of the parent(s) should they elect to regain custody of the newborn infant. Under most scenarios, it is recommended you instruct the parent(s) to contact officials at the selected hospital if they desire to regain custody of the newborn infant. RADIO REPORTS In an effort to ensure total confidentiality for the parent(s) and the surrendered newborn infant, it is highly recommended that radio reports to communications centers, hospitals, or other responding apparatus be very generic in nature and does not indicate the incident is an surrendered newborn infant situation. Transmission of medical information is appropriate without any indication the newborn infant was surrendered. LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE It is NOT necessary to notify Law Enforcement or DCF (Department of Children and Family Services) and is not required or specified under the law unless obvious signs of physical abuse are present on the surrendered newborn infant. This is to ensure that the parent(s) remain “anonymous” as specified by the law. REQUEST FROM MEDIA OUTLETS Again, to ensure the parents remain anonymous, it is best to avoid speaking with the media until well after transportation of the surrendered newborn infant to the hospital. The Public Information Officer should be notified of the surrendered newborn incident immediately. The PIO is trained on what information may be released and what must remain confidential. PROCEDURE: 1. Treat the surrendered newborn infant following established EMS Practice Parameters. 2. Attempt to obtain medical information from parent(s) concerning the delivery and the health of the surrendered newborn infant in order to facilitate medical care using the Safe Haven Medical Questionnaire and also provide the mother with the Surrendered Infant Help Card. All in English, Spanish & Creole) 3. Do NOT notify law enforcement unless physical abuse is certain. If physical abuse is determined or suspected, instruct a member to quietly notify law enforcement from a secure location in order not to alarm the parents that may still be present. Abuse must also be reported to the Department of Children & Families at 800-96ABUSE. FR-O-504/Page 2 of 4  4. Transport the surrendered newborn infant to the appropriate hospital. 5. Notify the staff including the PIO of the department immediately. The agency PIO or officer will notify “A Safe Haven for Newborns” 1-877-767-2229 as soon as possible. 6. Complete all associated documentation (run report, etc). DEFINITIONS: 1. Newborn’s Age - The newborn being left at a fire station, EMS station or hospital must be “approximately” seven (7) days old or less, as determined by a licensed physician. It may be difficult to determine the age of the surrendered newborn infant received at the fire station. Although the law specifies the infant should be approximately 7 days old or less, it is best to allow the appropriate receiving facility (hospital) to make this age determination rather than debate with the parent(s) at the fire station. Immediate transportation to the appropriate hospital is recommended. 2. Suspicion of Abuse - The baby being left under “Safe Haven” must be unharmed. If there is actual or suspected suspicion of abuse, follow established abuse-reporting procedures. 3. Anonymity - The parent(s) must remain completely anonymous in accordance with the “Safe Haven” law! It is permissible to ask direct medical questions. Explain that these questions will be used only to help their newborn baby, but parents are not required to answer any questions. Do not attempt to obtain names, address, phone or any other personal information from the parents. The parent(s) may leave at any time and should not be followed. The infant should be listed as “Safe Haven Baby” within the EMS run report. 4. Parental Rights - There is a presumption that the parent who leaves the newborn infant in accordance with the “Safe Haven” law intended to leave the newborn infant and consented to termination of parental rights. 5. Liability - Fire Rescue personnel are immune from criminal or civil liability for acting in good faith in accordance with the “Safe Haven Law”. Nothing in this law limits liability for negligence. 6. Medical Care - It is understood that a parent who brings a newborn infant to a fire station in accordance with the surrendered infant law constitutes “implied consent” for the medical treatment of that infant. Emergency medical treatment must be provided to the extent of training of EMT’s and/or Paramedic’s and shall arrange for transportation of the newborn infant to the appropriate hospital. 7. Medical Expenses - The surrendered newborn infant is presumed eligible for Medicaid coverage subject to federal legislation. The department however will not seek reimbursement from the parent(s). Obtaining billing information is not necessary or permitted. 8. Training - In order to ensure success of the surrendered infant law, all members should receive FR-O-504/Page 3 of 4  basic training and become familiar with this policy. No cost web based Safe Haven training is available from A Safe Haven for Newborns at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com ______________________________ REGINALD K. DUREN FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR Supersession History 1. PPM#FR I-15, issued 08/01/2000 2. PPM#FR I-15, issued 02/07/2014 3. PPM#FR O-504, clerical 03/01/2018 4. PPM #FR O-504, issued 11/4/2020 FR-O-504/Page 4 of 4