The Melville Fire Chief said in a press conference Monday that a newborn baby was delivered to Missouri’s only Safe Haven Baby Box location.
The baby, just hours old, was the first to be handed over to the baby box. The surrender occurred Feb. 8 at KSDK Melville Fire Protection District House 2 in South St. Louis County. report.
“The baby is safe and thriving after being placed in state custody for adoption,” the report said.
Baby boxes were created to prevent parents from leaving their newborns behind and potentially dying. Baby boxes are temperature-controlled incubators that are often built into the exterior walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, and can be accessed from the inside. Mothers at risk can anonymously and legally keep their newborns indoors. The mother then has time to evacuate before the outside door is locked and an alarm sounds to alert paramedics and hospital staff inside.
The baby will then be immediately removed and sent to the hospital for health checks. From there, the baby is usually taken into state custody and is often immediately adopted.
Missouri Baby Box opened in August 2023. Another baby box is planned for Fire Station No. 5 and should be ready by the end of the year, according to the report.
After the handover, the baby’s information was stored in a missing and exploited database in case the baby’s other parents wanted to be reunited.Monica Kelsey, CEO and Founder safe haven baby boxsaid no children have been reported missing so far.
“Our site invested in this program several months ago and we are already seeing results,” Kelsey told the outlet. “The important thing is that we are not reactionary and are prepared for this situation. We are proud of this selfless mother and that she trusted us and thank you for helping her toddler.”
Fire Chief Brian Hendricks told the program the boxes are inspected weekly. He said firefighters were shocked when the first surrender occurred and the alarm went off, but they were prepared and the process went smoothly.
“MFPD is committed to making a difference in the lives of those we serve and protecting the most vulnerable in our community,” Hendricks said. “Releasing a baby to us is an example of how we make a difference, and this act protects not only the baby’s life, but also the life of the birth parents who entrusted their child’s care to us.” It will be.”
This is the fourth surrender in Missouri since the start of 2024 (see here, here, and here).
According to the report, there are “200 Safe Haven Baby Box locations across the United States.”
