The township in northern Indiana is the site of a so-called Safe Haven Baby Box, an incubator-like device that can be found at a growing number of firehouses and hospitals around the country. “Saving one baby’s life is worth the cost. Wagler also received a free flight for herself and two guardians, a free hotel stay, free admission to the aquarium, and other gifts. It was dedicated and opened for use on June 11, 2020. Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson honored Wart at a press conference on Friday, and presented him with a lapel pin as a token of appreciation. "It worked perfect, exactly how it was designed to work.". This is also about protecting the mother,” said Knights of Columbus member Scott Cunningham. After the alert is triggered, the outside door cannot be reopened, and only the inside door can be opened to remove the baby. Low 36F. “There are babies and kids at fires, too. Indiana’s 2000 Safe Haven Law allows people to anonymously surrender their healthy newbornwithout fear of criminal prosecution at any fire station, police station or hospital as long as the childappears to be 30 days or less and unharmed. No tax money was used. 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You have permission to edit this article. “They’ve got options now that if they have an issue or don’t feel like they can take care of the baby, there is a location they can take the baby to and know it’s being taken care of,” he continued. Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune. The baby boxes are designed to be built into the side of a building’s wall. The first Safe Haven Baby Box was installed in Kokomo at Kokomo Fire Station 1 at the corner of Superior and Washington streets. The boxes are climate-controlled to keep the baby comfortable. The boxes allow a newborn to be legally surrendered under Indiana’s Save Haven Law. Advertising: (812) 523-7052. The Baby Boxes have a heating and cooling feature and are equipped with alarm systems to notify 9 … She's been referred to as "Baby Mia" in news reports ever since. “Last September, we just had the idea over a dinner table. “It’s really no different than what we do all the time,” Horton said. "I'm hopeful that one day she will see the story of how she was safely surrendered in the Safe Haven Baby Box I raised the money for...and search online for me," Wart told CNN. Protecting life and the innocent is what the Knights of Columbus do,” said Anthony Callahan, who led the fundraising efforts. The Safe Haven Baby Box is a final resource for women in crisis who want 100% anonymity to ensure a safe surrender of their baby. Knights of Columbus' Dick Moore who spear headed the project thanks everyone who helped. On Thursday, firefighters found a healthy baby girl inside. Knights of Columbus’ Dick Moore, who spearheaded the project, thanks everyone who helped. "These babies were left in trash cans and dumpsters. “That’s what this is,” she said. The mayor commended North Vernon’s Knights of Columbus Council 1631 for its efforts to make the baby box possible. And now it’s came to, like, this whole big thing where we’re saving a baby’s life. Two of those infants were surrendered right here in Indiana just within the past week in both Koskiusko and Allen counties. "Here we are 224 days later and we've had our first baby saved by the box, and I think that's an awesome feat," Nicholson said, While the community is in debt to Wart's efforts, he only asked for one thing in return: to name the child "Baby Mia.". The first Safe Haven Baby Box was installed in Kokomo at Kokomo Fire Station 1 at the corner of Superior and Washington streets. These babies go into a home right away, and they’re being held and loved and dressed and bathed and sung over, but within 30 days, they’re also with a forever family for the most part. 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North Vernon Mayor Mike Ochs cited a 2015 incident when a baby was abandoned at a local church as why it is appropriate and beneficial that the North Vernon Fire Department should be involved in the Safe Haven Baby Box effort. Monica Kelsey, founder of the nonprofit organization, began the initiative to give distressed mothers a safe place to drop off newborns while remaining anonymous. Wagler received a gift package Thursday night that includes a virtual reality headset to see the aquarium's dolphins, including two dolphins from the Dolphin Tale movies. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Safe Haven Baby Box is a final resource forwomen in crisis who want 100% anonymity to ensure a safe surrender of their baby. Although Kelsey lives in northern Indiana, she traveled to attend the blessing and dedication in North Vernon. North Vernon Fire Chief Mike Cole was one of about 35 people who attended the ceremony. There is also an alarm system attached to the baby box that is triggered in a matter of seconds and alerts dispatch and medical personnel that an infant is inside. Safe Haven Baby Boxes also installs safety drawers, which work similarly to the boxes, and runs a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis. Tim Bath | Kokomo Tribune, The first Safe Haven Baby Box was installed in Kokomo at Kokomo Fire Station 1 at the corner of Superior and Washington Streets. Circulation: (812) 523-7058 A Safe Haven Baby Box costs $10,000, which includes installation costs. The boxes are programmed to sense when a baby is placed inside and trigger an emergency alert. Two local students helped make this box a reality. A climate-controlled box installed into the wall of a building that allows a mother to place her unwanted newborn baby safely inside. No shame, no blame, no names,” Cunningham said. 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In response to Baby Amelia’s death, Monica Kelsey started the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization. No tax money was used. The Safe Haven Baby Box is working too, Kelsey said, as three infants have been safely surrendered via the baby box in the last 30 days. Much cooler. National Safe Haven Crisis line 1-866-99BABY1. The local Knights of Columbus raised the money to cover the cost. “All the (standard operating procedures) and procedures if a baby comes through are already drawn up, and we will have some drills to make sure everyone feels confident with what they are supposed to do,” Marling said. There was a problem saving your notification. (WEHT) — The 46th Safe Haven Baby Box in Indiana was unveiled in Ferdinand Thursday. Kelsey, who was abandoned as an infant herself, said around two to three abandoned babies died every year in Indiana before the initiative was launched. Updated 1450 GMT (2250 HKT) January 27, 2020. After … Two local students helped make this box a reality. The spacious box is temperature-controlled and is placed in an exterior wall of a designated hospital or fire station, with a door that automatically locks when an infant is placed inside. The Safe Haven Baby Box organization staffs a 24-hour hotline (1-866-99BABY1) to give women the opportunity to talk to a trained professional as they consider safely surrendering their baby. The box has a door on the exterior of the building and the interior. “It is also important to remember these baby boxes are not just about the baby. With everything that’s been going on, this is a light.”. Hunter Wart, 19, spent more than a year mowing lawns and scrapping metal to raise the $10,000 needed to purchase a Safe Haven Baby Box for the Seymour Fire Department. Signs are installed by JJ Steinmetz from Safe Haven with help from KFD’s John Siscel and Knights of Columbus’ Pete Schmitt. We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. This won’t be any different.”. Though the door is open for the demonstration, normally, the door is closed and completely covered so there is complete anonymity for the box on both the outside and inside. CARMI, Ill. (WEHT) – Restaurant owners in Southern Illinois are adjusting to a new round of restrictions requiring the closure of indoor dining areas. Back in February, the Kokomo Knights of Columbus [KofC] announced that it would pay for the initial cost of the box and its installation — roughly $15,000 — and KofC member Dick Moore reflected on that decision during Thursday’s dedication ceremony.