Baby's security

Salem Hospital cares about the safety and security of your baby during your hospital stay.

You should become familiar with the following security measures:

• At the birth of your baby, the mother, father/ support person and baby are given matching identification bracelets. If for any reason your baby leaves your room, when baby is returned to you, the nurse will check your number and the baby’s number to make sure they match. If you wish, parents are encouraged to go with their infant anytime baby leaves the mother’s room. Only those wearing bracelets can pick up baby from the nursery.
• Become familiar with the staff. All Salem Hospital employees wear identification badges with their photograph, name and job designation.
  Check for proper identification before giving your baby to anyone.
• Do not remove the identification bracelets while you and your baby are in the hospital.
• Make an appointment for your baby’s picture to be taken by the hospital photo service on the Mother Baby Unit. After photos are taken, redress baby in hospital outfit.
• Never leave your baby alone or unattended in the room.
• Salem Hospital uses electronic monitoring for the security of your baby.
• If walking with baby, always use the baby’s crib. Do not take your baby off the unit.

If your baby stays with us longer in the NICU, we will take your picture and put it in the baby’s crib so nursing staff can easily identify you. Visitors will be asked to show ID before entering the nursery.

Once baby is well enough, brothers and sisters may visit. Check with the nurse for an appropriate time. It is important to protect your baby from the flu, colds, or infections, so please ask visitors who are feeling ill to stay home.

Everyone should make sure to wash their hands and arms in the sink before coming into the nursery.

Salem Hospital has joined a growing number of hospitals that no longer provide birth announcement information to the newspapers. This is part of a nationwide effort to assure infant security and prevent abductions of infants and children.

Although infant abductions rarely occur, we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to decrease the risk of such a devastating event.

If you choose to announce your baby’s birth in the local newspaper or online, consider not including the family’s home address. If decorations are used, we suggest leaving them up for a brief period of time, or putting them inside your home.

Carefully consider who you allow into your home. Ask for photo identification of people who say they are from a healthcare service. The person should have a phone number you can call to verify his or her identity.

Never leave your baby alone with anyone you do not know well, even if it’s just to answer the phone. Thanks for your cooperation in helping us keep your baby safe.