Princeton Fire Territory’s new Safe Haven Baby Box has arrived, and while no one hopes it’s ever needed, once training is conducted later this month, Gibson County will have a safe option for infant surrender.
Princeton Common Council and Princeton Fire Territory agreed to host and maintain the Baby Box at the fire station at Embree and Brumfield in Princeton earlier this summer.
The boxes afford a confidential, safe way for a mother to surrender an infant. Company founder Monica Kelsey said that of the 12 babies surrendered since November 2017 using the boxes, 11 were in Indiana. The boxes have an alarm that automatically dials 911, and an emergency responder takes the baby from the box within five minutes. The boxes are heated and cooled and have an automatic lock to prevent unauthorized entry.