Officials confirmed that a newborn was “safely delivered” to a Safe Haven Baby Box in Atoka, Tennessee.
The infant was placed in the baby box located at Fire Station 1 on Fox 13 Atoka McLaughlin Drive. Authorities noted that the child was in “good health” when first responders retrieved him from the device.
The fire department emphasized that choosing this option allows the mother to protect her child while remaining anonymous. No personal details are required when using a Safe Haven Baby Box, and the law ensures that individuals who surrender infants safely are protected from criminal charges.
This incident marks the first surrender at this particular Safe Haven Baby Box facility.
Baby boxes were designed to prevent parents from abandoning their newborns, which can lead to tragic outcomes. These temperature-controlled incubators are typically integrated into the walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, accessible from the inside. At-risk mothers have a secure and legal way to leave their newborns without facing immediate danger. Once the outside door is closed, it locks automatically, giving the mother a chance to leave before alerting first responders and hospital personnel.
The baby is promptly taken to the hospital for health evaluations and is usually placed into state custody, often leading to adoption.
According to Tennessee’s Safeguarding Act, parents can surrender newborns up to 45 days old at hospitals, fire departments, EMTs, police stations, or in a baby box. The Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization, established nine years ago in Indiana, has expanded to at least 400 locations across the nation. Reportedly, over 70 newborns have been surrendered through these baby boxes in the U.S., and the organization has aided 150 individuals in connecting with safe havens.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes also operates a confidential national hotline, 1-866-99BABY1, offering free counseling and information on safe surrender options, including in-person surrenders.
