A healthy baby was safely surrendered in a baby box at a fire station in Seymour, Indiana early Thursday. The Safe Haven Baby Box become available to the community last year when High School Senior, Hunter Wart, raised the money to place this box in this Fire Station. The infant was immediately transported to a local hospital.
“We are proud to have this resource available for the residents of Seymour, Indiana,” said Fire Chief Brad Lucas. “We strive everyday to ensure the safety of our residents and this is just a way to ensure the safety of newborns.”
Seymour Fire Department was notified by the alarm as soon as the newborn’s mother opened the outside door to place her baby in the box. Within 60 seconds, the newborn baby was retrieved from the box and received medical care. The Fire Department staff worked flawlessly as they followed every Fire Department and Safe Haven Baby Boxes protocol established for receiving a newborn baby birthed outside a hospital.
“This mother loved this child and it takes a very special person to want what’s best for a child and know that it’s not her. That’s the ultimate act of selflessness. I’m so thankful she chose a safe place to surrender her child and not a dumpster or trash can like we see too many times,” says Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
This is the fifth baby surrendered in a baby box in the past two years in Indiana and the third to be surrendered in the past 134 days. Safe Haven Baby Boxes has helped 68 women and infants with safe surrenders, assisted with six adoption plans, and have referred hundreds to pregnancy crisis centers around the country. Safe Haven Baby Boxes Crisis Line (1-866-99Baby1) is available for women to speak with a licensed counselor if they are considering surrendering their baby or and we also provide ongoing counseling to women who have surrendered.
The Seymour box is one of 21 active baby boxes in Indiana, including one in Frankfort. Currently there are a total of 25 baby boxes in three states.