First newborn baby surrendered in baby box at Ohio fire station 

Two firefighters in Delhi Township, Ohio, sprang into action to assist the first newborn baby surrendered in their fire station's Safe Haven Baby Box in January.

Key Takeaways:

• A newborn baby was surrendered last month in the Safe Haven Baby Box at a fire station in Delhi Township, Ohio. This was the first baby surrendered in the four years since the box had been installed.

• Ohio allows for infant surrenders within the first 30 days after birth. Each state has its own parameters for surrender.

• Safe Haven Baby Boxes offer discrete and safe solutions for desperate parents who feel they cannot care for their newborn.

The Details:

Firefighters Nick Morrow and Don Burke of the Delhi Township Fire Department discovered the infant when an alert triggered for the first time in the four years since the baby box's installation.

Morrow told Local News 12 Ohio, "I had no idea what it was at the time. It was a total surprise to me when I turned the corner and there was a baby inside the box."

Burke told News 12 he experienced an adrenaline rush, adding, "I get the chance to be a part of, a good part of this kid's life."

Fox 19.com noted that there are nearly two dozen baby boxes in Ohio, and hundreds in the U.S.:

Installed in 2022, the Delhi Township Baby Box is one of 22 Baby Boxes in Ohio and part of more than 400 across 23 states.

Each box is equipped with 24/7 monitoring and a silent alarm system that alerts first responders the moment a baby is placed inside.

Once the initial amazement wore off, Morrow and Burke took care of the baby and sent the infant to Children's Hospital for immediate care. Once medically cleared, the hopeful process of finding a permanent home for the newborn will begin. 

Homes are usually found quickly for surrendered newborns. WXIX noted that "Surrendered babies are typically adopted by a family within 30 to 45 days. Officials with child services conduct interviews to find a home for the newborn."

Ohio allows for infant surrender within the first 30 days after birth, according to the National Safe Haven Alliance.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey spoke about the surrender in a video posted to Facebook:

The Bottom Line:

Safe Haven Baby Boxes (SHBB) came to be in April of 2016 when founder Monica Kelsey helped to install the first box in Indiana. The group says it has helped over 150 newborn infants who have been safely surrendered. The group's website states that the boxes are "[d]esigned with innovative safety features and installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals" which "ensures the safe and anonymous surrender of infants."

The box is secure because, according to SHBB, "The exterior door locks automatically when a newborn is placed inside, and an interior door allows medical personnel to promptly and securely retrieve the baby, ensuring immediate care and protection."

While every state in the U.S. has a safe haven law allowing for the surrender of infants up to varying ages, not all states have baby boxes, which the group says provide a layer of anonymity for desperate parents.

Go Deeper:

Read more about baby boxes in the articles below.

• Safe Haven Baby Box is now 'an option for life' in Northeast Ohio county

• Safe Haven Baby Box used for first time in Wisconsin

• Alabama Safe Haven Baby Box installed in May sees first infant surrender