The Memorial Health Foundation, in partnership with the Lawton Fire Department, welcomed the City of Lawton’s first Safe Haven Baby Box during a ribbon cutting held on May 1 at Lawton Fire Station #5.
Under Oklahoma’s Safe Haven Law, babies up to 30 days old can be surrendered without prosecution.
Using the box is simple and safe. Users open the temperature-controlled box, place the baby inside, and then close the auto-locking door. A silent alarm is triggered, notifying firefighters who are able to retrieve the baby from a door inside the fire station. The baby is then taken to the hospital before being turned over to child protective services.
Parents in crisis can visit shbb.org or call the Safe Haven 24/7 hotline at 1.866.99BABY1 for immediate help on how to legally surrender your infant.
Dede Armes, member of the Memorial Health Foundation Board, stands in front of Lawton’s first Safe Have Baby Box with the crew of Lawton Fire Station #5.