Chattanooga now has Tennessee's latest Safe Haven Baby Box, located at Fire Station 6 (4510 Bonny Oaks Drive). This is a life-saving device for newborns across the region. Today, Safe Haven officials, members of the Chattanooga Fire Department, area first responders and city leaders gathered to bless the new baby box as it is now operational and accessible for the public.
A Baby Box is a safety device provided for under Tennessee Safe Haven Law and legally permits a parent in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender his or her newborn without fear of prosecution. A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station. The process involves opening the box's secure door, placing the baby inside the temperature-controlled bin and closing the door. Once the door is shut, a sensor alerts firefighters to retrieve the baby. CFD personnel will provide medical care until Hamilton County EMS arrives and the infant will be immediately transported to the closest hospital for further evaluation. These boxes aim to prevent unsafe abandonment and ensure that infants are placed in proper care, following legal protocols.
Carol Burhenn’s daughter adopted her son through a Safe Haven Baby Box in Vienna, Austria and the family felt compelled to bring one to the Chattanooga area where the Burhenns reside. They’ve worked tirelessly to make it happen in order to help citizens across the region. Read Taylor, a local businessman and philanthropist, is the very generous donor who made the project possible in Chattanooga. He’s known the Burhenns for years and has witnessed the life-changing impact of the Baby Box program. Fire Station 6 was chosen because of its proximity to Highway 153 and other interstate systems.
“My dear friend Lauren from high school was able to adopt her wonderful son thanks to a Baby Box in Austria, where she lives. When she and her mom, Carol Burhenn, wanted to set up Chattanooga’s first Baby Box, I needed to get involved to help this happen in the town where I grew up. I am so glad to now have it installed and ready to begin helping people who need it, and am extremely grateful for the cooperation of the Fire Department in getting this done,” Taylor said.
There are multiple Safe Haven Baby Box locations in Tennessee and 284 locations across the country. The boxes are temperature-controlled and automatically lock when a baby is placed inside. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If a parent uses the box, they will find an orange bag full of resources.
Chattanooga Fire Chief Phil Hyman stressed the importance of having this kind of resource in the community: “We want parents across the entire area to know that they can turn to the Chattanooga Fire Department when they are in crisis and rest assured that their newborns will be safe. This is about protecting and saving the lives of children and we are honored to be a part of the expanding Safe Haven Baby Box program. We appreciate everyone who has been involved in making this resource available to those who need it.”
Infant surrendering laws vary by state. However, in Tennessee, parents in crisis can surrender their babies to a Baby Box without face-to-face interactions with first responders. Additional resources about the rules regarding infant surrendering can be found at shbb.org.
The Chattanooga Fire Department would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in bringing a Safe Haven Baby Box to our great city, including the entire SHBB team, the Burhenn family, Read Taylor, LaVerne and Jim Craig with the Craig Foundation Fund, the Baby Box installers (Anthony Stephens and Joshua Cress) and Ken Page who is doing the security monitoring.
Other Safe Haven Baby Box locations in Tennessee include: Jackson, Lawrenceburg, Springfield, Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Kingston, Oak Ridge, Knoxville (two Baby Box spots), Clinton and Erwin. Soon, SHBB will bless and open a new box in Atoka (Memphis area) and Rocky Top, TN. One will be coming to East Ridge as well.
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