CV NEWS FEED // A Safe Haven baby box installed at a Kentucky fire station recently saved a baby boy. This boy is the first infant ever surrendered at the station’s baby box and the 50th baby surrendered since the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization’s launch in 2015.
Safe Haven’s baby boxes are temperature-controlled boxes often installed in hospitals or fire stations that enable people to anonymously drop off infants younger than 30 days old. Once a baby is placed inside, the door locks and a silent alarm activates. Staff at hospitals or fire stations respond to the alarm within minutes, providing or procuring medical care for the baby. Babies surrendered at the boxes are later placed for adoption.
According to Live Action, Montgomery County Fire Captain Zachary Adams was thrilled that the box was used.
“Monday afternoon we were honored and blessed to have a baby surrendered at our Fire Station in Montgomery County, KY. The baby boy was surrendered and appeared to be in good health and was transported to our local hospital,” Adams stated. “There aren’t words to express how happy we are to be part of this opportunity!”
He continued:
Words cannot describe it. We weren’t expecting this. I truthfully thought the box would never be used.
Under Kentucky law, parents can surrender infants younger than 30 days at any staffed fire police station, fire station, hospital, or participating place of worship without fear of criminal prosecution or allegation of neglect. With the Safe Haven baby boxes, however, parents have the benefit of anonymity.
Parents have 30 days to reverse their decision to surrender their babies.
Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ founder, thanked the infant’s parents during a press conference for surrendering their baby to the fire department.
“Thank you for keeping your child safe, for entrusting the Montgomery County Fire Department to take it from here,” she said, according to Live Action. “Your baby is healthy, your baby is safe.”
She added in a news release:
Our program offers hope to mothers in crisis. We are so grateful this mother trusted us to protect her infant as well as her identity. It is a selfless act and we are proud of the birth mother.
