Preventing neonatal kidnapping.
Sixty-eight kidnappings of newborns were reported between 1983 and 1991 in the United States. Assessing perinatal units for areas of vulnerability and addressing identified problems can improve security. Strategies to increase the safety of neonates, including understanding the profile of the potential kidnapper, reviewing common methods of abducting infants, developing visiting guidelines, and instituting staff identification policies and other methods, are discussed.
Beachy
P
P
University Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
Deacon
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D009042:Motivation; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012637:Security Measures / Q000592:standards*