The Maternity & Newborn Care Center takes security regulations seriously. Becoming familiar with the following information will help ensure the security and protection of your newborn.
- The Maternity & Newborn Care Center is a locked unit. A maternity staff member will unlock the Special Care Nursery for parents who show their hospital ID bracelet.
- Security sensors are placed on your baby’s ankle after birth, as are two identification bands. The mother and her partner are given matching ID bands as well. You will be asked to show your band whenever your baby is separated from you and is brought back to you.
- Please know your nurse’s name and become familiar with the hospital personnel who are taking care of you and your baby. A white coat, uniform, or scrubs are not adequate identification. Hunterdon Medical Center staff members are required to wear photo identification badges with their photo showing. Hospital staff will welcome your request to show their photo identification badge.
- While your baby is in your room, be sure to keep the bassinet away from the door, and be able to see your baby all the time. If you need to use the bathroom, bring the bassinet into the bathroom with you.
- Rooming in with your baby is encouraged because it enables you to get to know and care for your new baby. Most procedures can be done in your room, but if your baby needs to go to the nursery for any reason, ask questions about why and how long your baby will be away from you. If you are uncomfortable with anyone who requests to take your baby or are unable to clarify the reason, please call your nurse.
- For safety reasons, please keep your baby’s bassinet away from the door and transport your baby in the hallway using the crib. No one, for any reason, should carry your infant out of the room in his or her arms. Alert your nurse immediately if anyone tries to do so.
- Contact your nurse immediately if you have questions about anyone who comes into your room.
Hunterdon Medical Center has added a unique layer of security in the Maternity & Newborn Care Center and Pediatric Unit to help ensure the safety of its youngest patients. The hospital installed the Hugs® Infant Protection System to safeguard its infants and children from the threat of abduction.
Infant protection systems provide an effective deterrent against the abduction of infants. The Hugs® system has been configured to operate in a number of ways that readily support our existing security systems and our fire detective systems.
Each infant wears a comfortable and unobtrusive Hugs® tag attached via a soft tamper-proof strap around his or her ankle. The computer console displays floor plans of the facility showing tag locations with monitored areas and doors indicated. The system can be made to activate other devices such as cameras, door locks, public address systems, pagers, sirens, elevators, or other alarms.
In the event of an attempted abduction, the Hugs® system immediately informs security and nursing staff precisely where the alarm has occurred. This information is vital in ensuring a quick response during an abduction attempt.
The system provides printed reports of all the activity of the Hugs® tag. These reports provide evidence about the abduction effort. Each infant is uniquely identified within all reports. Once activated, the only way to remove a bracelet without generating an alarm is with authorized procedures.
Please see Visitor Policy for Maternity.
- Before discharge from the hospital, find out if there will be any in-home follow-up care by home care agencies. Do not allow anyone into your home that says he or she is affiliated with the hospital or home care agency without properly verified identification as issued by the hospital or agency.
- For your records to take home, have at least one color photograph of your baby, full, front-face view, taken along with footprints. Also, compile a written description of your baby, including hair and eye color, length, weight, date of birth, and any specific physical characteristics.
- Consider the risk you may be taking when placing your baby’s birth announcements in newspapers or online. Any announcements should never include your address and should be limited to your surnames only. This includes the ‘baby on board’ stickers for your vehicles.
- We suggest you avoid the use of outdoor decorations announcing your baby’s arrival. Having a baby is, of course, an exciting event, but be aware that potential abductors frequently “scout” neighborhoods to look for evidence of a new baby in the area. If you do use outdoor decorations, take them down after a day or so.
- Be wary of new acquaintances met during your pregnancy or shortly thereafter. Potential abductors have been known to befriend a new mother, only to take her baby shortly thereafter.
- Be aware that there have been cases in which initial contact with a mother and baby was made in public places such as malls, shopping centers, and bus stations. If you must take your baby out, whenever possible, take a trusted friend or family member with you as an extra set of hands and eyes.
- Never leave your baby or any child alone in a motor vehicle, even for just a few seconds. Always take your child with you. Never let someone you don’t know pick up or hold your baby.