PRESS RELEASES - AUGUST 2006

City Launches Infant Safety Awareness Program at Fire Stations
Photo and Video Opportunity is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2

August 1, 2006

What:
Public awareness campaign for a national infant safety program includes new signage at all Arlington Fire Stations. The first sign will be installed this week.

When:
10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2

Where:
Fire Station No. 14 is located at 5501 Ron McAndrew Dr. in west Arlington. All Fire Stations in the city provide emergency medical services and have agreed to act as designated emergency infant care providers as part of the Baby Moses Law. Arlington has 16 fire stations.

Background Information:
The Baby Moses Law is the common term for a law that allows a parent to voluntarily deliver a child who is 60 days old or younger to a designated emergency care provider. One purpose of the law is to encourage parents who abandon their children to do so with a designated emergency infant care provider rather than at a dangerous location. The law also protects parents from criminal prosecution when they deliver an unharmed child to a designated emergency infant care provider.

Participants:
District 4 Arlington City Council member Kathryn Wilemon, the Arlington Alliance For Children, the Arlington Pregnancy Center and the Arlington Fire Department.