Introduction:

For many years, the issues of infant abduction and accidental switching in hospitals after birth have been a major concern for society. These incidents were widespread due to the difficulty of distinguishing between newborns and the challenge of verifying whether the person carrying the baby was truly the father or a stranger attempting to abduct the child. Naturally, lax security measures were the primary cause of such incidents. This phenomenon was not limited to one country but was a global issue. In some nations, such as the United States, hundreds of cases have been recorded since 1983, prompting the establishment of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which continues to track these crimes to this day.

Although such incidents are rare in KSA, they have undoubtedly occurred. No one can forget the infamous Dammam case (widely known as the 'Dammam Kidnapper') that took place in 2000, where three children were reunited with their families after more than 20 years of being lost. Alongside this case were other crimes that either gained media attention or remained unknown, not to mention accidental baby switches, which were more common in the early 2000s.

For this reason, the Kingdom must implement comprehensive security and protection systems for children—not limited to special care nursery rooms alone, but extending throughout the entire hospital. After all, around 62% of abductions or accidental switches occur in the mother's room during visits.

Infant Protection and Security Systems in Hospitals

Hospital infant protection systems and procedures cover several aspects, starting with raising awareness among hospital staff, medical teams, security personnel, and employees. This includes distributing informational brochures, training staff to respond to abduction cases, and keeping newborns in the special care nursery during visits.

Measures to reduce such incidents also involve placing the baby’s bassinet away from doors, ensuring an Arabic-speaking nurse is available to communicate with the mother, coordinating between security authorities and the hospital, installing surveillance cameras, using magnetically locked doors, enforcing standardized uniforms and ID badges for staff, and verifying parents’ documents before handing over the child.

On the technological front, the ultimate solution was implementing an electronic infant protection system…

Electronic Infant Protection System

Hospital security and patient safety experts unanimously agree that technology must be leveraged to protect newborns from abduction or accidental switching within hospitals. A single incident can leave lifelong psychological scars on both the child and their family. To address this, an advanced security system was implemented in numerous hospitals across the Kingdom, proving its effectiveness and earning the trust of both hospital staff and families.

The electronic system uses RFID technology, which uses radio waves for identification. It comprises two subsystems: Hugs, designed to prevent infant abduction, and Kisses, which ensures newborns are not mistakenly switched.

The system operates through two electronic bracelets—one worn by the mother and the other secured around the newborn’s ankle. Only authorized personnel can remove the bracelets. If an attempt is made to tamper with or cut the bracelet, the system immediately triggers an alert, notifying the medical team.

These devices are electronically linked, ensuring each baby is paired exclusively with their mother to prevent mix-ups. Additionally, the system integrates with hospital security units, continuously tracking the infant’s location to ensure they remain within designated areas. If an unauthorized individual attempts to remove the baby from these zones, an alarm is activated, automatically locking all maternity ward exits and suspending hospital entry and exit until the situation is resolved.

Comprehensive Infant Protection System by Tatawwar

Tatawwar Technologies is committed to staying ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology, specializing in tracking, security, and remote control systems. The company provides cutting-edge surveillance, fleet management, and remote monitoring solutions powered by the latest advancements in IoT and AI.

Now, in alignment with the KSA’s efforts to enhance infant security in public and private hospitals, Tatawwar Global has announced the availability of its comprehensive infant protection systems, making implementation easier for healthcare facilities seeking to elevate their security and improve service quality.

Tatawwar’s state-of-the-art infant security solution is designed to make healthcare facilities safer. The system includes: Mother and infant bracelets, equipped with electronic identity matching. Real-time location tracking. Intelligent surveillance cameras. From birth, the system links mother and baby electronically, ensuring their bracelets are uniquely paired. When reunited, the devices generate visual confirmation alerts, allowing medical staff to verify their match instantly.

In the event of unauthorized movement, immediate alerts are triggered. The system also enables real-time monitoring through smart surveillance cameras, providing parents and nurses with live video feeds via a mobile app, including infrared night vision for enhanced visibility.

With its advanced alarm, tracking, and electronic identification system, Tatawwar’s solution ensures infant safety while enhancing the overall quality of healthcare services in hospitals and medical centers.