Ohio Fire Department Uses Safe Haven Baby Box for First Time
An infant was anonymously placed in a Safe Haven Baby Box in mid-January, according to local officials. The baby, just under 30 days old, was surrendered at the Derry Township Fire Station on Neve Road. This marks the first use of the baby boxes at this location since they were installed in 2022.
Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, explained that the device was designed specifically to offer a secure, anonymous, and non-judgmental option for mothers in crisis. “This mother’s decision was selfless and an act of pure love. She chose life. She chose safety. She chose hope,” she commented.
The baby boxes aim to prevent parents from abandoning their newborns in harmful situations. They are temperature-controlled incubators located at the exterior of various emergency service facilities. Mothers can safely place their newborns inside, and once the baby is in the box, the outer door locks, giving the mother a chance to leave before an alarm goes off, alerting emergency personnel.
Following the placement in the box, the infant is quickly transported to a hospital for health checks and typically moves to state custody, often leading to adoption.
This initiative began nine years ago in Indiana and has grown to encompass at least 400 locations nationwide. Over 70 newborns have been surrendered through these baby boxes in the U.S., and the organization claims to have facilitated over 150 safe transfers.
The recently surrendered baby was taken to a children’s hospital for evaluation and is now under the care of Job and Family Services, which will search for a permanent home.
Lt. Kevin Kramer from the Derry Township Fire Department expressed a mix of emotions. He stated, “The district officers were happy to participate. I don’t know if bittersweet is the right word, but I’m glad these parents trusted us.”
In Ohio, infants up to 30 days old can legally be surrendered at baby boxes, hospitals, fire stations, police departments, and EMS providers. Additionally, Safe Haven Baby Boxes operates a confidential national Safe Haven hotline, providing free counseling and information about safe surrender options.
