N.Y. Paramedic Credited in Creation of Safe Havens

After responding to four separate scenes of babies who were found abandoned and not breathing back in 1998, Nassau paramedic Timothy Jaccard decided to change his career path, reports longisland.news12.com.

Jaccard founded the AMT Children of Hope Foundation, which works with expectant mothers, and is the driving force behind laws that allow a birth mother to drop off her newborn at a so-called “safe haven,” like a hospital or police station, with no questions asked or fear of prosecution, the news station reports.

In addition, the foundation provides a funeral for each baby who is found dead.

At the Long Island Crisis Center in Bellmore, trained counselors take calls all day and night from women across the nation.

Jaccard says that nationwide, 2,886 babies have been safely surrendered.