Virginia opened its first Safe Haven Baby Box in Roanoke, offering mothers the ability to safely surrender their infant. The box is located at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, WJLA reported.
“We want another option for parents. You know we have seen so many infants that have just been abandoned and left to die, on their own, alone with no dignity whatsoever,” said Jessi Getrost, an executive assistant of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “This way they are able to go to a temperature-controlled environment where they just get placed in this box, they are warm, they are safe from the elements outside, and quickly they are just scooped up and loved and taken care of by a medical provider on the other side.”
The hospital’s website explains that the box is located in an underground parking garage. Upon placing the infant in the box, an alarm is activated to notify authorities.
“When a newborn is placed in the box, it automatically locks and a silent alarm activates. Within about 2 minutes a healthcare professional retrieves the newborn and begins a health evaluation,” the hospital notes. “As an extra precaution, there are three fail-safe alarms that notify personnel. The Department of Social Services is also notified. The box provides a private and safe environment for relinquishing a baby up to 30 days after birth.”
According to the Safe Haven Baby Boxes website, the boxes aim to prevent “illegal abandonment” of newborns and are a “last resort option for women who want to safely surrender their child with complete anonymity.” The organization also offers a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis.
