Amarillo getting Safe Haven Baby Box, just the 2nd one in the Texas panhandle
The box is currently being installed at one of the 13 fire departments. But until it's fully functional, the company does not want the location of the box revealed for safety reasons.
The box will provide a safe option for parents to surrender newborns without legal consequences.
Once a baby is placed inside, the door locks to ensure the infant's safety and allows the mother and/or father time to leave. Emergency services are then notified to check on the baby.
"I can't imagine the thought process that she has to go through to come to that decision," said Jason Love with AFB. "If that decision is made, we just wanted to provide another safe place for them to go and know that their kid is going to be taken care of."
According to the Baby Moses of Safe Haven Law in Texas, parents can bring their baby who is less than 61 days old to any fire station, hospital or EMS station and hand it over, no questions asked. If the baby is unharmed, parents face no criminal charges and the Department of Family and Protective Services takes custody.
A Safe Haven Baby Box allows you to do the same thing, but without face-to-face interaction.
AFD hopes to unveil the box on Sept. 26. Until then, it should not be used.
