| Infants abandoned in dumpsters, back alleys, | | | | to help the child. They will give you a bracelet that |
| public restrooms, or parks make heartbreaking | | | | matches one placed on the baby, in case you |
| headlines whenever they are found. Only the | | | | change your mind within 14 days and want your |
| decency of the homeless veterans, who so often | | | | baby back. You can go to for more information in |
| find these children while looking for food scraps, | | | | Los Angeles County, or call toll free |
| saves the lives of the babies. Sadly, it is | | | | 1-877-222-9723 (1-877-BABY SAFE). |
| sometimes too late for the child, even though | | | | Texas was the first state to pass a "Baby |
| paramedics or police respond within minutes. | | | | Moses" law in 1999, although records show no |
| Please don't throw away your baby!! If you can't | | | | babies were surrendered until the following year. |
| take care of your newborn and have nowhere to | | | | Some 35 other states now have similar laws, |
| turn in Los Angeles, for example, take the infant | | | | although the time limits vary widely. Upon last |
| to any L.A. County Hospital Emergency Room or | | | | checking, Texas allows 60 days from birth for the |
| Fire Station, and hand the baby to an employee. | | | | baby to be safely surrendered. There is some |
| This will grant anonymity under the Safely | | | | controversy over the laws, with opponents |
| Surrendered Baby Law. Don't just leave him or | | | | believing they actually encourage mothers to give |
| her on the doorstep or in a waiting room. That | | | | up their babies. Nevertheless, the lives of more |
| would constitute abandonment and is illegal. | | | | than 300 babies have been saved. That's 300 |
| California's Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows | | | | precious souls able to grow up in adoptive homes, |
| birth parents to give up their baby confidentially | | | | where they can be cared for and loved. |
| within three days of birth, without fear of arrest | | | | Be sure to pass along this information to anyone |
| or prosecution, as long as the baby has not been | | | | else you know, who may be panic-stricken |
| abused or neglected. Medical personnel will only | | | | because she's just given birth, or check the |
| ask for optional health history information, in order | | | | Internet for the laws in another state. |