3525 Newborn Drop-off at Fire Stations (ems Operations)

Question 1

What policy number is Newborn Drop-off at Fire Stations

Answer 1

3525 ems operations

Question 2

The Medical Services Officer for Operations shall be responsible for

Answer 2

1. Receiving and properly managing completed Parent Information forms in
   accordance with the guidelines set forth in this document
2. Providing additional Newborn Transfer posters to stations as requested

Question 3

Define

Appropriate location

Answer 3

The emergency department of a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW during the hours the hospital is in operation; or a fire station during its hours of operation and while fire personnel are present; or a federally
designated rural health clinic during its hours of operation.

Question 4

Define

Newborn.

Answer 4

A live human being who is less than seventy-two hours old.

Question 5

In accordance with RCW 13.34.260

Answer 5

a. TFD stations shall serve as appropriate locations to which a parent may transfer the care of a newborn in lieu of leaving that newborn in an unsafe situation or location
b. TFD uniform personnel shall serve as qualified persons to receive and care for newborns dropped off at fire stations

Question 6

TFD personnel are immune from any criminal or civil liability for

Answer 6

accepting or receiving a newborn under the above circumstances.

Question 7

If the newborn appears to have been intentionally harmed TFD personnel
shall:

Answer 7

a. Discreetly notify law enforcement personnel immediately
b. Follow Pierce County Patient Care Protocols for abused children
c. Transport the newborn to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital

Question 8

If the scene is not secure or if the child is clearly older than 72 hours, TFD
personnel shall

Answer 8

contact law enforcement immediately.

Question 9

The Parent Information Packet includes

Answer 9

a. Resource Information including, but not limited to –
i. Adoption options
ii. Counseling options
iii. Appropriate medical and emotional aftercare services
iv. Domestic violence resources
v. Legal rights of the parents
b. “Descriptions and Characteristics of Birth Family” form
c. “Parent’s Message to the Newborn” form

Question 10

The Fire Department Information Packet includes

Answer 10

a. “Receipt of Transfer” form

b. Patient Information Form A

Question 11

Upon receiving new born, TFD personnel shall immediately

Answer 11

a. Complete the “Receipt of Transfer” form and give it to the person dropping off the newborn before s/he leaves the station
b. Provide the person dropping off the newborn with the Parent Information packet
c. Interview the person dropping off the newborn using Patient
Information Form A to obtain as much prenatal/birth/medical history as possible

Question 12

If a person attempts to return completed Parent Information forms to a fire
station, TFD personnel shall accept the forms and

Answer 12

route them as PHI to the Medical Services Officer for Operations at TFD Headquarters.

Question 13

Upon receipt of the completed Parent Information forms, the Medical
Services Officer for Operations shall

Answer 13

a. Make copies and attach them to the newborn’s EMIR
b. Mail the original forms to:
Newborn Safety
Adoptions Program Manager
Children’s Administration Headquarters
Department of Social and Health Services
P.O. Box 45710
Olympia, WA 98504-5710

Question 14

Who is responsible for maintaining this document.

Answer 14

The Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services