Three infants were surrendered in Safe Haven Baby Boxes in a single week, with one placement occurring at the Woodlands Fire Department in Texas and two others at undisclosed locations. The Woodlands Fire Department reported that upon receiving the infant, their employees followed established protocols. A silent alarm immediately notifies firefighters, who respond within minutes to ensure the baby's anonymity and safety.
The infant surrendered in Texas was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. Woodlands Fire Department Chief Palmer Buck stated that the system worked as intended and the baby is now receiving necessary care. "This Safe Haven Baby Box exists for moments exactly like this," Buck said. "Today, a baby is safe because someone chose a secure and legal option during what was undoubtedly a difficult situation."
Safe Haven Baby Boxes is a nonprofit organization founded by Monica Kelsey in 2015. Kelsey was inspired to create the boxes after her own experience as an abandoned infant and seeing similar devices in use in Cape Town, South Africa. There are more than 440 Safe Haven Baby Boxes installed in fire stations and hospitals across 23 U.S. states, with Indiana having the largest number. These boxes are installed in walls, allowing access from the outside for surrender and from the inside for first responders.
The organization also provides a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis and helps direct them to the nearest baby box drop-off locations, which include fire stations, hospitals, or EMS centers. If baby boxes are not available in a particular area, the organization assists women in surrendering their children in person while maintaining anonymity where possible. Kelsey also offers training on Safe Haven laws to help professionals interact with parents who choose to surrender their children.
Each Safe Haven Baby Box costs over $20,000 and is funded through private donations. The boxes do not require FDA approval as they are not classified as medical devices. Infants surrendered through the program are typically adopted by families approximately one month after their placement in a box. After a baby is placed inside, firefighters are immediately notified by a silent alarm and respond within minutes while still respecting the anonymity of the person surrendering the child. 
