At approximately 8:30 p.m., the crew of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Rescue 14 was flagged down by a man and woman at 9150 SW 87th Avenue. The man, a janitor at a nearby office building, stated he heard a baby crying as he approached a dumpster in the office complex.
The other witness verified that she also heard the crying and thought there might be a baby in the dumpster. The Rescue crew of three firefighter/paramedics immediately commenced a search. One firefighter climbed into the dumpster and quickly located the crying baby, a newborn boy with the placenta and umbilical cord still attached.
The crew began an immediate assessment and warming of the newborn, who appeared to be cold but otherwise healthy. The infant was transported in good condition to a nearby hospital for further evaluation and treatment. No note about the baby was found on scene. Miami-Dade Police Department is investigating the incident and urges anyone who may have information pertaining to this incident to contact them at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
In 2000, the Florida Safe Haven for Newborns statute was enacted. This statute provides that a parent can drop off an infant less than 3 days old at any Fire or EMS station or hospital without being questioned or charged with abandonment, as long as there is no evidence the baby has been abused. It is assumed that a parent taking advantage of the Safe Haven law is willing to give up all parental rights; however, the parent can reclaim the newborn without fear of reprisal at any time before parental rights are formally terminated. Prior to the passage of similar laws across the United States, approximately half of all abandoned newborns died as a result of being deserted by their parents. The Gloria M. Silverio Foundation states that 117 newborns have been saved in Florida since the law took effect.
The dumpster where the baby boy was found in Kendall is within a few miles of Safe Havens at a hospital and several Fire-Rescue stations. Fortunately, the concern and willingness of two Good Samaritans to get involved helped to assure this newborn’s safety.