PAHOKEE, Fla. – A newborn is in good condition at a hospital after being dropped off at a Palm Beach County fire station.The system to protect unwanted babies worked and now a newborn is out of harm’s way. That’s the word from Pahokee firefighters.
On Monday night a baby was dropped off at their station.
Firefighters in Pahokee have rescued children in the past, but nothing like Monday night.
Palm Beach County EMS Captain Craig Prusansky said, “It was just kind of a sudden shock to have this mother come in and hand us the baby.”
Just before 7, a mother rang the fire station bell and told crews inside she’d be leaving her 3 hour old newborn with them.
Under the Florida Safe Haven law, that’s legal and the mother won’t be charged. The baby was taken to Lakeside Medical Center in good condition. Prusansky said, “The system definitely worked last night and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. It actually makes us feel good that we were able to help out.”
Prusansky said the mother knew about a program called “A Safe Haven for Newborns.”
The program identifies safe places to leave newborns with no questions asked.
Since the program started in 2000, 10 babies have been dropped off at safe haven sites in Palm Beach County.
Babies have also been dropped off in both Martin and St. Lucie counties.
Two were left at Indian River County safe places.
Safe Haven for Newborns founder founder Nick Silverio said Monday was a success.
“We’re overwhelmed and overjoyed whenever a little precious life is saved and conversely when a baby is left in an unsafe place and doesn’t make it, our hearts are broken,” said Silverio.
Silverio said A Safe Haven for Newborns received three phone calls Tuesday from people who wanted to adopt the newborn. He said the newborn will be turned over to a private adoption comapany, which will likely have several potential families waiting.
