Chesapeake Fire Department Safely Surrendered Infants Policy PDF

Policy 318 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Safely Surrendered Infants - 1 Safely Surrendered Infants 318.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy establishes the guidelines to accept...

Policy 318 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Safely Surrendered Infants - 1 Safely Surrendered Infants 318.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE This policy establishes the guidelines to accept infants being surrendered by a parent. This policy addresses infants who are 30 days old or less and who are safely delivered to an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency staffed with EMS providers (Va. Code § 8.01-226.5:2; Va. Code § 16.1-228; Va. Code § 18.2-371; Va. Code § 18.2-371.1; Va. Code § 40.1-103; Va. Code § 63.2-100). _ 318.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include (12 VAC 5-31-10): Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency - Any person or agency engaged in the business, service, or regular activity, whether for profit or not-for-profit, of transporting or rendering immediate medical care and providing transportation to persons who are sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless and that holds a valid license as an EMS agency issued by the Virginia Health Commissioner. _ EMS provider - Any person who holds a valid certificate as an EMS provider issued by the Virginia Health Commissioner. 318.2 POLICY As an EMS agency, it is the policy of the Chesapeake Fire Department to protect infants by allowing a person to safely and confidentially deliver an infant 30 days old or less to any Chesapeake Fire Department facility staffed with qualified EMS providers. 318.3 GUIDELINES The following guidelines should be used by qualified EMS providers: (a) Qualified providers shall accept an infant who is being surrendered by a person in a reasonably safe manner within 30 days of the child's birth. (b) An assessment of the infant's medical condition shall be immediately undertaken and any observable medical needs shall be addressed. (c) The receiving providers shall promptly notify local law enforcement and the local social services department's Child Protective Services (CPS) of the abandoned infant pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Child Abuse Policy (Va. Code § 63.2-1509). (d) Additional notifications and media concerns include: 1. The receiving personnel shall notify Emergency Dispatch Center and their appropriate supervisor as soon as practicable. 2. The supervisor will notify the Battalion Chief, duty officer and the department's Public Information Officer (PIO). 3. The PIO may, as circumstances dictate, provide the following limited facts to the media: Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Safely Surrendered Infants Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Safely Surrendered Infants - 2 (a) Date, time, and fire station where the infant was surrendered (b) Local CPS representative's name and telephone number