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Newborn Baby Abandoned At Fire Station

By Carl Willis

POSTED: Sunday, November 11, 2007
UPDATED: 9:22 am CST November 11, 2007

A firefighter found a newborn baby abandoned at a fire station on Saturday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Westlake firefighter Victor Scrivens discovered the infant wrapped in towels. Officials said the child may have been only 20 to 30 minutes old.

He almost missed the baby, who was placed on an out-of-sight slab of concrete that is mostly covered by an air conditioner.

"If I didn't see little fingers, I would've just thought it was some rags laying on the side of the building," Scrivens said. "At first I said 'Oh my God, it's a newborn baby.' I went to get the EMT."

According to fire officials, the boy's pulse and temperature were a bit low, but in the end, he appeared to be fine.

Westlake Fire Chief Mark Palmer said his thoughts soon turned to the mother, and if she was in need of help.

Palmer said he was just glad that the child did not end up in a more dangerous situation.

"I don't understand what was going through the mother's mind when she did that, but at least she did take the time to drop the infant off at the fire station," Palmer said.

Texas' Baby Moses Law allows parents to leave an unharmed infant up to 60 days old at a hospital or a fire station with no questions asked.

Still, the trained professionals at the Westlake Fire Department were stunned by the discovery.

"In the city of Houston, a lot of times they have a bell, drop the baby here. This is something we've never experienced here at Westlake," Palmer said.

Palmer said it was fate that Scrivens found the infant, since it was left on the side of the station that is rarely used.

"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Scrivens said.

"If he hadn't gone and done that, who knows when we would have found the baby? Probably four hours later and I think that would have been too late," Palmer said.

The baby was taken to Christus Saint Catherine Hospital, where doctors will determine if he has any medical issues or illegal drugs in his system.

A hearing will be held on Monday to determine if the baby falls under the Baby Moses Law.

Child Protective Services has set up a help line for women who may be considering giving up their children but want them to stay safe -- 1-877-904-SAVE.
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