Just about two months ago, O'Fallon Missouri received a Safe Haven Baby Box. There was a blessing ceremony, but little did they know it was about to be put to use.
If you've never heard of a Safe Haven Box, it is a place where a baby can be safely surrendered. but the person turning them in can remain anonymous.
"So we know very little about what happens after the fact," says O'Fallon Missouri Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Andy Parrish.
KMOX's Maria Keena asked if once the baby is put in the box can the person who dropped it off open the box again.
"Not from the outside," he replied.
And then within 60 seconds, an alarm sounds alerting the fire department and an alarm monitoring agency. And that's exactly what happened on September 13th.
The baby is removed from the box and first responders provide medical care and immediately transfer the infant to the hospital. Statewide there are eight baby boxes. In our area, Mehlville and now O'Fallon has one.