Marion County officials held a dedication ceremony for a new Safe Haven Baby Box that was recently installed at a local fire station.
Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) dedicated and blessed its new Safe Haven Baby Box at Citra Fire Station #2 (2189 NE 180th Ln) on Monday.
Currently, there are approximately 377 Safe Haven Baby Box locations across the United States, including eight in the state of Florida.
The new unit in Citra is the second one installed at an MCFR station, according to the organization. In Ocala, Ocala Fire Rescue unveiled its first Safe Haven Baby Box at the MLK First Responders campus in 2020:
Founded in 2015 by Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Box allows parents a discrete place to safely deliver a child to authorities.
“We have seen time and time again that preparation can save and change lives. We never know when or where we will be needed, so it is crucial to have options for mothers in crisis,” said Kelsey in reference to the new box at Citra Station #2.
Once a newborn is placed inside the box, the exterior door automatically locks and fire rescue personnel are alerted to respond immediately and ensure the baby receives immediate attention.
Approximately 69 infants have been safely surrendered through Safe Haven Baby Boxes since 2017.
For more information about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, visit www.shbb.org. To speak to a trained professional about surrendering a newborn – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – contact the National Safe Haven Crisis Line at 1-866-99BABY1 (1-866-992-2291).