CARMEL, Ind.–For the third time in the last five weeks, a baby has been dropped off in a baby box at the Carmel Fire Department Station #45.
This has been happening a record number of times at the Carmel Fire station. Last month, there were two babies dropped off at the same location.
“The Carmel Clay community is honored that a mother in crisis would entrust their newborn baby to Carmel Firefighters. Our firefighters believe every baby deserves a home. We are proud to be able to do our part to ensure this baby finds its forever home,” said Carmel Fire Chief Dave Haboush.
Monica Kelsey is the Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. She started the organization because she was abandoned as a baby and wanted to find a way to give future babies a better start.
“I’m so honored and proud that these guys at the Carmel Fire Department can offer a last resort option in their communities for any mother in need,” said Kelsey at a news conference Wednesday.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are currently available in Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and New Mexico. 19 babies have been placed in baby boxes since 2017.
The person opens a door on the side of the department’s building that holds a bassinet, which triggers a silent alarm to alert firefighters that a baby has been placed inside. The exterior door automatically locks to protect the baby.
Firefighters attend to the infant instantly and take it to the hospital for evaluation. The baby is then adopted within 30 to 45 days.
