Indiana currently has 81 baby boxes.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at the Lawrenceburg Fire Department. File photo.
(Vevay, Ind.) – A Safe Haven Baby Box will soon be installed in Switzerland County.
State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) authored a bill in 2021 helping communities install baby boxes at a volunteer fire station or a facility staffed 24/7 by professional emergency medical service providers.
To date, Indiana currently has 81 of the life-saving devices, which is four times as many as all other states have combined.
“While we hope these boxes don’t have to be used, they are a safe, anonymous option for distraught parents or caregivers to leave a newborn in the care of emergency responders,” said Frye. “It’s important we continue our efforts to prioritize the safety of our most vulnerable, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to protect these lives.”
Indiana’s Safe Haven Law enables a parent to surrender an infant less than 30 days old to any hospital emergency room, fire station, police station or Safe Haven Baby Box within the state without fear of prosecution.
Baby boxes are temperature-controlled incubators with an alarm system that is triggered when a child is place inside, so first responders can immediately rescue the baby and provide critical care.
Frye says Switzerland County is planning to put a baby box in Vevay in the next six to eight weeks.
Other area towns and cities with baby boxes include Lawrenceburg, Batesville, and Greensburg.
For more information, visit Safe Haven Baby Boxes - Baby Box Locations, Business, Drop Box (shbb.org).
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