MEHLVILLE, Mo. — The first baby was dropped off earlier this month to Missouri's first and only Safe Haven Baby Box.
The healthy baby girl was surrendered at Fire House 2 in Mehlville, near St. Louis, and is now in the care of the Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division.
The station's baby box was installed in August 2023, and is only the fourth in the country to have a child surrendered.
Baby boxes allow babies to be legally surrendered anonymously. Mehlville Fire Chief Brian Hendricks said the process went smoothly.
"The outer door opens, that triggers the first alarm. This packet of information is for the parent," Hendricks said. "Once the baby is placed inside the incubator, it sends an additional signal and the crews will be notified there's a baby in the box."
The city of Paducah is slated to get its own baby box later this year. Hope Unlimited Family Care Center is partnering with the Paducah Fire Department to have one installed.
