It is customary to keep newborns and their mothers in the hospital at least 48 hours after delivery. During that time, infants are equipped with an infant abduction prevention tag, usually as an anklet which serves a number of purposes. Most importantly, it ensures that the baby stays in the hospital and with the mother.
What Is an Infant Abduction Prevention System?
As the name suggests, an infant abduction prevention system is a technology that keeps babies under proper guardianship, most often applied in a medical setting. At its very base, it consists of a body-worn device that monitors the baby’s location.
The transmitter of an infant abduction prevention system is usually secured to the baby with an anklet. The better models may include security features to prevent tampering as well as a real-time locating system.
The infant abduction prevention system works with an RFID transmitter that “checks in” with the facility’s tracking system. This will provide hospital staff with real-time location information about the infant patient, and ensures the patient stays under the care of the correct medical staff.
Benefits of Infant Identification Beyond Infant Abduction Prevention
Beyond infant location tracking, infant abduction prevention systems also provide infant identification. This serves several purposes essential to neo-natal care.
Parent-Baby Matching
The chief benefit of infant identification is matching parents to their children. In addition to being radio frequency emitters, the identification anklets usually include a printed unique baby identification code.
This baby identification code has many uses. For parent-baby matching, the identification code will also be printed on identification bracelets provided to the parents. These bracelets can also be used for access security to certain areas such as NICUs.
Breast Milk Storage
In addition to being applied to parent identification bracelets, the infant identification code is also used to organize breast milk storage. Especially in a NICU. Breast milk storage and identification is crucial for babies who will be left in the care of your medical facility in the absence of their parents.
The identification code on the baby’s infant abduction prevention anklet can be matched to labels on bottles of breast milk. These labels can include patient information in addition to the date and time of storage.
Medical Care Verification
Babies are in the hospital for all sorts of reasons. Some are born premature and need a specified care regimen unique to their condition. Other babies have congenital or acquired illnesses and need medication or other therapeutic interventions.
The identification code on the baby’s anklet can be matched with their medical charts, medication, and medical devices. Infant abduction prevention systems ensure that infants get the proper medical care.
About the KinderGUARD® Infant Abduction Prevention System
SecureCare’s KinderGUARD® infant abduction prevention system is the cutting edge of infant tracking technology. The KinderGUARD® uses tamper-proof cut band technology to ensure that identification anklets cannot be removed or tampered with, except by credentialed personnel upon discharge.
The KinderGUARD® has a “heartbeat” which checks in with the system every 7 to 10 seconds to provide real-time location. The Secure Care software makes admission, transfers, and discharge a breeze, allowing your medical staff more time to care for patients and less time working on a computer.
KinderGUARD® is computer-enhanced, but not computer-dependent. In the event of a network outage, KinderGUARD® will continue to protect infants in your facility’s care.
Secure Care and its certified distributors work closely with you to tailor a comprehensive infant protection solution with mobile alerting, parent-baby matching, data dashboards, reporting, and much more.
About Secure Care Products
For over 35 years, Secure Care Products has been committed to providing improved safety, security, and locating solutions through best-in-class service and innovative design for your most valuable assets. As the first company in the world to design and manufacture electronic monitoring equipment for wander-prone residents, we empower long-term care and healthcare facilities around the world. Using state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technologies, we keep people and things protected. Let us know how we can help you by calling 1.800.451.7917 or contact us.
