Mom Surrenders Newborn Twins to Fire Station Under Safe Haven Law

A young woman surrendered healthy newborn twins to a San Bernardino Fire Station in California on Jan. 28—no questions asked.

She told firefighters at the station she had just given birth to twins and wanted to leave the babies at Fire Station 302, a safe-haven site, under the California Baby Safe Haven Law, according to a Facebook post by the San Bernardino County Fire Department (SBCF).

Both babies were healthy, clean, and fed. They were taken via ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. SBCF said the young mother refused medical attention and was told how she could reclaim her children if she wished to do so within 14 days, as per the safe surrender state law.

“This is exactly why the Safe Surrender program was created,” said Fire Chief Mark Hartwig. “This young mother did the right thing by bringing her babies to the fire station. Regardless of your circumstances, the Safe Surrender program is a viable and loving option—no questions asked.”

California’s Safe Haven Law protects the mother or surrendering person, from criminal prosecution if they surrender the baby to a designated “safe-surrender site” within 72 hours of birth.

The baby and parent, or person with legal physical custody, both receive a confidentially coded ankle bracelet upon arrival. Under the law, the parent or surrendering person has 14 days to reclaim the baby if they change their mind by bringing their coded bracelet back to the site.

After a baby is received, he or she is examined, receives medical treatment if needed, and then placed in a foster or pre-adoptive home.

This policy was developed to prevent newborn babies from being abandoned, which is dangerous, illegal, and often results in the death of the child.

From 1999 to 2018, 3,524 newborns were surrendered using Safe Haven laws, 1,397 newborns were illegally abandoned, 773 newborns were found dead, and 462 newborns were found alive, according to National Safe Haven Alliance.

“You may have heard stories about babies being left in dumpsters, public toilets, or other unsafe locations. The parents abandoning their babies may have been under severe emotional or financial stress. The mothers may have hidden their pregnancies, fearful of what would happen if their families found out. Because they were afraid and felt they had nowhere to turn for help, they abandoned their baby,” according to the California Department of Social Services website.

The Law was first introduced in California in 2001 but formally signed into law in 2006. From January 2001 to December 2017, 931 newborns were surrendered in California and in 2017, 88 newborns were surrendered. A total of 33 babies have been reclaimed since 2001.

In Los Angeles County, a baby surrendered on Jan. 10 became the 151st baby surrendered in the county since 2001 and the first of 2019.

“One hundred and forty-nine families have been blessed, 149 mothers made the right decision, 149 children have the right to grow up and be whatever they want to be because of the love and the care of the safe-surrender families,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe said in a video posted to the L.A. County Safe Surrender Facebook page.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors designated San Bernardino County fire stations as Safe Haven sites in 2004. Only fire stations staffed full-time are considered safe-surrender sites. All designated sites have safe-surrender signs displayed.