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Baby Found in Dumpster on Arizona’s Safe Baby Haven Day

Southwest Announces All 200+ Ambulances to Also Serve as Newborn “Drop-Off” Locations

MESA, Ariz. — Tragically, on the day designated by Governor Napolitano to raise awareness of Arizona’s Safe Baby Haven law and the Safe Baby Haven Coalition, a newborn was found dead left in a Phoenix dumpster.

Coalition members were disgusted while learning of the news during a press conference where coalition member Southwest Ambulance was announcing that all of it’s 200-plus ambulances in Arizona should be considered mobile Safe Baby Haven “drop-off” locations where mothers may hand over their newborn child to Southwest EMTs and Paramedics, no questions asked. The announcement was to mark a significant increase in number of baby drop-off locations in Arizona.

“For a child to be lost on Arizona’s Safe Baby Haven Day when an additional 200 drop-off locations were being introduced makes this even more sad,” said Josh Weiss, Director of Communications for Southwest Ambulance. “Today’s tragedy shows why it’s so important to educate un-wanting and unwilling mothers, or those that have hidden their pregnancy, of this legal way to give up their parental responsibilities while allowing the child to live a full life.”

In 2001, Arizona passed a law allowing parents to leave unharmed newborn children 3-days-old or younger at any hospital, fire station or an on duty emergency medical technician without fear of arrest or identification. The program is designed to protect newborns if their parents are unable or unwilling to care for the child.

Coalition members include: Banner Health, Southwest Ambulance, AZ DHS’s Office of Women’s and Children’s Health, Jr. League of Phoenix, Medical Examiner’s Office, Banner Foundation, and John C. Lincoln- Deer Valley.

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