MEHLVILLE, Mo. – A newborn girl has been safely placed in a Safe Haven Baby Box at Mehlville District’s Fire Station #2 on February 8th, 2024. The baby girl is now safe. These boxes aim to prevent the unsafe abandonment of newborns, offering a life-saving alternative.
Installed on August 8, 2023, this is the first Safe Haven Baby Box in the Mehlville District. It’s designed as a secure and legal option for mothers in crisis. The box features a temperature-controlled incubator within the fire station’s wall. It lets mothers leave their newborns anonymously. Once a baby is placed inside, the door locks automatically. This gives the mother time to leave before anyone inside is alerted.
Mehlville Fire District responders quickly cared for the baby upon discovery. They then took her to a hospital for further checks.
“We knew the value of these boxes in Missouri, and we are thankful it was there for this mother when she needed it,” Rep. Murphy, R-St. Louis, states. “The mother’s courageous decision to utilize the Safe Haven Baby Box is a testament to the impact of these life-saving initiatives.”
This represents a significant accomplishment under the law that Governor Mike Parson signed on July 15, 2021. This is the first child that this baby box has saved. Representative Murphy dedicated three years to developing and advocating for this legislation.
State Representative Jim Murphy’s office did not elaborate on what’s next for the newborn. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. today. More information will be posted then.
Note: The video in this story is from the dedication in August.
