VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Missoula Fire Department just received a Baby Safe Haven Box, which will be installed in the coming months. The state of Montana has required fire departments to accept unwanted babies through the Montana’s Safe Haven Newborn Protection Act, since 2001 . “So our objective at the Missoula Fire Department is to allow the family to surrender a child and have a safe place to do it,” said Missoula Fire Department Assistant Chief Philip Keating.
State law allows parents to remain anonymous to ensure the newborn get’s the medical attention and care they need. Each box is equipped with doors that lock automatically, immediately alerting first-responders. โSo the next steps would be to take the child into care. Weโre going to have an alarm in the station as well at 911, which will dispatch us and then weโll provide medical care and then have the child transported to the hospital for a full evaluation,” said Keating.
