Preventing Infant Abduction

Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Abductions by Non-family Members TOTAL – 293 TOTAL – 293 Still missing - 12 Still missing - 12

Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Abductions by Non-family Members From health care facilities132 From health care facilities132 From mother’s room77 From mother’s room77 From nursery17 From nursery17 From pediatrics17 From pediatrics17 From “on premises”21 From “on premises”21 With violence to Mother/care-giver11 With violence to Mother/care-giver11 Still missing - 5 Still missing - 5

Total Infant Abductions by Non-family Members From homes 119 From homes 119 With violence to Mother 36 With violence to Mother 36 Still missing – 4 1 was located in 2014 Still missing – 4 1 was located in 2014 From other places 42 From other places 42 With violence to Mother 12 With violence to Mother 12 Still missing – 3 2 were located in 2014 Still missing – 3 2 were located in 2014 Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Overall percentage total does not equal 100 due to rounding Overall percentage total does not equal 100 due to rounding

Abductions by State states with most abductions: 7 states with most abductions: NY, GA, PA – 11 NY, GA, PA – 11 IL – 18 IL – 18 FL – 22 FL – 22 TX – 38 TX – 38 CA – 39 CA – 39

States with No Abductions Alaska Alaska Hawaii Hawaii Louisiana Louisiana Nebraska Nebraska North Dakota North Dakota Vermont Vermont Wyoming Wyoming

Regional State #’s South Dakota – 1 (from home) South Dakota – 1 (from home) Minnesota – 2 (1 from other) (1 from home) Minnesota – 2 (1 from other) (1 from home) Iowa – 1 (from other) Iowa – 1 (from other)

A Typical Abductor Based on an analysis of 292 abductors between 1983 and 2014 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Based on an analysis of 292 abductors between 1983 and 2014 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Female of childbearing age (12-55 yrs old) Female of childbearing age (12-55 yrs old) Often overweight- to suggest pregnacy Often overweight- to suggest pregnacy Compulsive, manipulative, and deceptive Compulsive, manipulative, and deceptive Frequently indicates she has lost a baby or is incapable of having one Frequently indicates she has lost a baby or is incapable of having one Often married or cohabitating Often married or cohabitating

A Typical Abductor Usually lives in the community where the abduction takes place Usually lives in the community where the abduction takes place Frequently initially visits nursery and maternity units at more than one hospital prior to the abduction, asks detailed questions about procedures Frequently initially visits nursery and maternity units at more than one hospital prior to the abduction, asks detailed questions about procedures Frequently uses stairwell for escape Frequently uses stairwell for escape Usually plans the abduction but seizes any opportunity rather than targeting a specific infant Usually plans the abduction but seizes any opportunity rather than targeting a specific infant

A Typical Abductor Frequently impersonates a nurse or allied health care personnel Frequently impersonates a nurse or allied health care personnel Often becomes familiar with health care staff, work routines, and victims parents Often becomes familiar with health care staff, work routines, and victims parents Demonstrates capability to provide good care for the baby once abduction occurs Demonstrates capability to provide good care for the baby once abduction occurs

Abductor from Home Setting More likely to be single while claiming to have a partner More likely to be single while claiming to have a partner Targets a mother she finds while visiting health care facilities “target family” Targets a mother she finds while visiting health care facilities “target family” Plans the abduction AND brings a weapon- although may not be used Plans the abduction AND brings a weapon- although may not be used Often impersonates a health care or social service professional Often impersonates a health care or social service professional

Video

What We Do To Prevent Abduction Women’s Center and Pediatrics locked 24/7 Women’s Center and Pediatrics locked 24/7 Nursery and NICU locked inside the locked unit Nursery and NICU locked inside the locked unit All stairwells are locked All stairwells are locked Secure elevators on WC Secure elevators on WC Security cameras outside WC and Pediatrics Security cameras outside WC and Pediatrics Scrubs in secure area on WC Scrubs in secure area on WC 4 part ID bands placed at delivery 4 part ID bands placed at delivery Don’t carry newborns in the hallways – always transported in their crib Don’t carry newborns in the hallways – always transported in their crib

Opportunities for Improvement WC wears scrubs like other areas in the hospital, plus can be purchased at store WC wears scrubs like other areas in the hospital, plus can be purchased at store No special ID on our name badges to link us to WC, NICU, or Peds No special ID on our name badges to link us to WC, NICU, or Peds Always can improve pt and staff education regarding abduction Always can improve pt and staff education regarding abduction Educate parents about dangers of advertising birth Educate parents about dangers of advertising birth

What Can You Do? Be alert ALWAYS! Be alert ALWAYS! If a code adam is called – secure the exits IMMEDIATELY! If a code adam is called – secure the exits IMMEDIATELY! Abductor may tuck baby into a bag or backpack – so if code adam – watch for this! Abductor may tuck baby into a bag or backpack – so if code adam – watch for this!

If this ever did occur at our facility – I think we can all agree it would be devestating. Staff and patient education are our main defense! Thanks for helping keep our baby’s safe! Thanks for helping keep our baby’s safe!