Lubbock Now Has A Safe Haven Baby Box, Only The Second In Texas, What Is It?

In an effort to prevent illegal abandonment of newborn babies, Lubbock has installed the very first Save Haven Baby Box location on the South Plains and it's only the second location of these boxes in all of Texas.

In Texas, newborn babies up to 60 days old can be surrendered at hospitals, EMS facilities and Fire Stations. Since 1999, parents in Texas have been able to surrender their newborn children anonymously. Sadly, there are still stories of babies being abandoned in dumpsters, restrooms, and other places they shouldn't be. And leaving a baby outside of a facility could put the baby in harm due to weather conditions and other circumstances. But the Safe Haven Baby Box provides a safe place to leave a baby.

Where is the Safe Haven Baby Box Located in Lubbock?

Fire Station 9 located at 4815 50th Street is the new home to the Safe Haven Baby Box. The baby box in installed into the fire station meaning the box is climate controlled and perfectly safe from the elements. Newborns that are placed in the box must be 60 days old or younger.

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How Does The Safe Haven Baby Box Work?

When a parent walks up to the box, they open it and can take the orange bag that is filled with resources. The baby can then be placed in the box. Once the baby is placed in the box and the box is closed, a signal is sent to the fire station and 911. According to a press release, the average time babies are in the box is 2 minutes. Below is a video showing how it works.

The first Safe Haven Baby Box location in Texas was in Abilene. Lubbock is the second. More locations in Texas are in the works according to reports.