Preventing Preventing Infant AbductionInfant Abduction

Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Abductions by Abductions by

Non-family MembersNon-family Members1983 - 20141983 - 2014

TOTAL – 293TOTAL – 293 Still missing - 12Still missing - 12

Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Total Infant (birth to 6 months) Abductions by Abductions by

Non-family MembersNon-family Members1983 - 20141983 - 2014

From health care facilitiesFrom health care facilities 132132 From mother’s roomFrom mother’s room 7777 From nurseryFrom nursery 1717 From pediatricsFrom pediatrics 1717 From “on premises”From “on premises” 2121

With violence to Mother/care-giverWith violence to Mother/care-giver 1111 Still missing - 5Still missing - 5

Total Infant Abductions by Total Infant Abductions by Non-family MembersNon-family Members

1983 - 20141983 - 2014

From homesFrom homes 119 119 With violence to MotherWith violence to Mother 36 36

Still missing – 4 1 was located in 2014Still missing – 4 1 was located in 2014 From other places From other places 42 42

With violence to MotherWith violence to Mother 12 12 Still missing – 3 2 were located in 2014Still missing – 3 2 were located in 2014

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenSource: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Overall percentage total does not equal 100 due to roundingOverall percentage total does not equal 100 due to rounding

Abductions by State 1983 - 2014Abductions by State 1983 - 2014

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

States with No Abductions States with No Abductions 1983-20141983-2014

AlaskaAlaska HawaiiHawaii LouisianaLouisiana NebraskaNebraska North DakotaNorth Dakota VermontVermont WyomingWyoming

Regional State #’sRegional 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 AbductorA Typical Abductor

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

incapable of having oneincapable of having one Often married or cohabitatingOften married or cohabitating

A Typical AbductorA Typical Abductor

Usually lives in the community where the Usually lives in the community where the abduction takes placeabduction takes place

Frequently initially visits nursery and maternity Frequently initially visits nursery and maternity units at more than one hospital prior to the units at more than one hospital prior to the abduction, asks detailed questions about abduction, asks detailed questions about proceduresprocedures

Frequently uses stairwell for escapeFrequently uses stairwell for escape Usually plans the abduction but seizes any Usually plans the abduction but seizes any

opportunity rather than targeting a specific infantopportunity rather than targeting a specific infant

A Typical AbductorA Typical Abductor

Frequently impersonates a nurse or allied health Frequently impersonates a nurse or allied health care personnelcare personnel

Often becomes familiar with health care staff, Often becomes familiar with health care staff, work routines, and victims parentswork routines, and victims parents

Demonstrates capability to provide good care for Demonstrates capability to provide good care for the baby once abduction occursthe baby once abduction occurs

Abductor from Home SettingAbductor from Home Setting

More likely to be single while claiming to More likely to be single while claiming to have a partnerhave a partner

Targets a mother she finds while visiting Targets a mother she finds while visiting health care facilities “target family”health care facilities “target family”

Plans the abduction AND brings a weapon- Plans the abduction AND brings a weapon- although may not be usedalthough may not be used

Often impersonates a health care or social Often impersonates a health care or social service professionalservice professional

VideoVideo

What We Do To Prevent AbductionWhat We Do To Prevent Abduction

Women’s Center and Pediatrics locked 24/7Women’s Center and Pediatrics locked 24/7 Nursery and NICU locked inside the locked unitNursery and NICU locked inside the locked unit All stairwells are lockedAll stairwells are locked Secure elevators on WCSecure elevators on WC Security cameras outside WC and PediatricsSecurity cameras outside WC and Pediatrics Scrubs in secure area on WCScrubs in secure area on WC 4 part ID bands placed at delivery4 part ID bands placed at delivery Don’t carry newborns in the hallways – always Don’t carry newborns in the hallways – always

transported in their cribtransported in their crib

Opportunities for ImprovementOpportunities for Improvement

WC wears scrubs like other areas in the hospital, plus WC wears scrubs like other areas in the hospital, plus can be purchased at storecan be purchased at store

No special ID on our name badges to link us to WC, No special ID on our name badges to link us to WC, NICU, or PedsNICU, or Peds

Always can improve pt and staff education regarding Always can improve pt and staff education regarding abductionabduction

Educate parents about dangers of advertising birthEducate parents about dangers of advertising birth

What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Be alert ALWAYS!Be alert ALWAYS! If a code adam is called – secure the exits If a code adam is called – secure the exits

IMMEDIATELY!IMMEDIATELY! Abductor may tuck baby into a bag or Abductor may tuck baby into a bag or

backpack – so if code adam – watch for this!backpack – so if code adam – watch for this!

If this ever did occur at our facility – I think we If this ever did occur at our facility – I think we can all agree it would be devestating. can all agree it would be devestating.

Staff and patient education are our main defense!Staff and patient education are our main defense!

Thanks for helping keep our baby’s safe! Thanks for helping keep our baby’s safe!